Our teaching pavilion on Waterfront Drive is finally finished. We broke ground for the pavilion, classroom, and book/gift shop on April 3, 2003, following over a year of site preparation and archaeological research at the building site.
Major gifts and donated services got us off to a good start, and within a year the first phase was done — the rest rooms, the deck, and the pilings for the classroom. After additional gifts and state matching funds were received, we were able to resume construction in October, 2005, finally seeing completion of the structure in July, 2006.
Our next task is to furnish and equip the classroom and shop. We will have a built-in presentation board and screen on the west wall of the classroom, along with a podium with sound system. On the south wall will be two permanent plaques, one acknowledging major contributors of money and services, along with major gifts to our endowment fund. The other plaque will list current annual supporters of the Randell Research Center at the Sponsor level and above. Five dozen chairs have been ordered for seating during public lectures and programs. The chairs can be removed and stacked in a nearby storage room when not in use, allowing us to configure the room for small conferences or meetings as well as receptions. The air-conditioned shop will have displays of books and gifts, and will double as an information center for visitors.
Meanwhile, with repair funds and all permits finally in hand, our RRC staff has moved into temporary quarters in a construction trailer as we begin renovations to the historic Gill House, our RRC office and lab building. Some repair costs will be reimbursed by FEMA due to their being necessitated by hurricane damage. Other renovations, such as a new heating and air conditioning system and electrical wiring, will make the house fundamentally safer and more pleasant for our staff and visitors. Finally, thanks to grant support from the Lee County Historic Preservation Board, we also plan to restore the historic wood floors, walls, and ceilings to resemble their 1920s appearance.
Getting the Gill House renovations finished promptly is important for two reasons. We want to be ready for the main visitation season that begins in the winter, but we also need to provide adequate space for our new public archaeology program. Kara Bridgman Sweeney will eventually have a dedicated office in the Gill House, but right now she is out in the trailer with everyone else.
Finishing the Gill House renovations and opening the RRC classroom and shop this fall will finally complete the building project we began over five years ago. All Friends of the RRC will receive a special invitation to an open-house celebration and dedication of the classroom, to be held this fall. In the meantime, please come and visit us anytime, and follow our progress. Without the interest and support of our RRC Friends, none of this would have been possible, and we are profoundly grateful for your support
This article was taken from the Friends of the Randell Research Center Newsletter Vol 5, No. 3. September 2006.