Historic Preservation

Florida Southern Starts Citrus Greenhouses, Reopens Planetarium

Image
Florida Southern Starts Citrus Greenhouses, Reopens Planetarium

Lakeland – October 27, 2026 -- Florida Southern College has begun building a four-greenhouse citrus and horticulture complex and reopened its modernized Miller Planetarium, backed by state, federal and private funding. Both milestones were marked at a joint ceremony on Oct. 22.

Albritton complex anchors the College's citrus education push

The Ben and Missy Albritton Citrus and Horticulture Complex is named for Florida Senate President Ben Albritton, a College alumnus who studied horticulture there, and his wife. Guests signed a steel beam that will become a permanent part of the structure. Once completed, the four greenhouses will support hands-on learning and experimentation.

Board of Trustees Chairman Keith Berend noted that the College once offered what was the nation's only bachelor's degree dedicated to citrus.

Weidner Builds 212-Unit Majestic Tower in Downtown Wenatchee

Image
Weidner Builds 212-Unit Majestic Tower in Downtown Wenatchee

Wenatchee – October 14, 2026 -- Weidner Apartment Homes is building a seven-story, 212-unit apartment community in downtown Wenatchee, Washington, and restoring the city's 1910 jailhouse as a commercial space, with both projects due for completion in summer 2027.

The Majestic adds 212 units and 100 public parking stalls downtown

The Majestic Apartments, designed with Milbrandt Architects, will have a brick exterior, arched entries and Art Deco detailing inspired by downtown Wenatchee's architecture. The underground garage will include 100 public parking stalls. Weidner says the added parking will expand downtown capacity and encourage foot traffic to nearby businesses.

The project builds on the 1,626 residential units Weidner has already developed in Moses Lake, Leavenworth and Wenatchee.

National Trust Honors 8 Preservation Projects at D.C. Summit

Image
National Trust Honors 8 Preservation Projects at D.C. Summit

Washington, D.C. – – September 23, 2026 -- The National Trust for Historic Preservation awarded eight recipients its 2026 National Preservation Awards before more than 500 industry leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., marking the organization's first National Preservation Summit.

San Diego completes seven-year renovation of 315,000-square-foot Depression-era civic landmark

The County of San Diego received a Richard H. Driehaus Foundation National Preservation Award for rehabilitating its County Administration Center, a building dedicated in 1938 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt's federal public works program. The project spanned more than twenty phases of fully occupied renovation to address seismic limitations and aging systems without demolition.