The Danforth Chapel is the smaller of two chapels that Frank Lloyd Wright designed for Florida Southern College. (Chronicle photographs by Lawrence Biemiller)
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The Danforth Chapel is the smaller of two chapels that Frank Lloyd Wright designed for Florida Southern College. (Chronicle photographs by Lawrence Biemiller)
Some readers may not be familiar with Frank Lloyd Wright’s work at Florida Southern College. The Chronicle ran an article about the college’s restoration efforts in 2007; here are some photos taken at the same time. —Lawrence Biemiller
Wright’s master plan for the college showed buildings connected by covered walkways referred to as “esplanades.”
Wright cantilevered the esplanade roofs off of surprisingly-shaped supports on one side.
The Polk County Science Building incorporates the esplanade design.
Most of Wright’s campus buildings, including the science building, are constructed with concrete blocks molded on the campus to Wright’s specifications. This is the interior of a classroom in the science building.
The larger of the two chapels, the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel, uses similar blocks, many of them pierced with small pieces of colored glass. The chapel’s unique tower has skylights within.
The large chapel’s two-story interior is designed with a raised platform of which those seated in the balcony have a good view.
The chapel’s tower is visible among citrus trees planted alongside the esplanade leading from the science building.
Wright’s administration complex has a series of memorable cantilevered sunscreens that shade windows.
