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Restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright's Westcott House
Springfield
Preservation Merit Award to all who contributed to the restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Westcott House, including the
Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy; Westcott House Foundation; The Turner Foundation; Chambers, Murphy & Burge
Restoration Architects; Schooley Caldwell Associates; Structural Engineer and Architectural Historian Elwin Robison;
Landscape Architect Carol Yetken of CYLA Design Associates, Oak Park, IL; Durable Slate Company; and the many skilled
artisans and craftspeople and generous donors who made the project possible
Ohio’s only Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie house
was completed in 1908 for Springfield industrialist Burton Westcott, his wife Orpha, and their family. It was divided into
apartments decades ago by a subsequent owner, whose descendants struggled with maintaining it until selling it to the Frank
Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy in 2000. A study by engineer and architectural historian Elwin Robison found that the
house was in desperate need of structural stabilization, which became a first priority. Through the cooperation of local
citizens and the Conservancy, the Westcott House Foundation came into being in 2001 to oversee the restoration. Working with
Chambers, Murphy and Burge Restoration Architects and Schooley Caldwell Associates, they sought to preserve as much of the
historic fabric of the Westcott House as possible while preparing it to become a museum. Drawings published in Wright’s
Wasmuth Portfolio, historic photographs, newspaper articles, and existing building fabric were all used to determine the
original appearance. Complementing the meticulous preservation of existing fabric was the re-creation of missing elements.
Under direction of Durable Slate Company, dozens of carefully-selected local artisans worked according to the meticulous
dictates of the Historic Structure Report, reestablishing the site boundary and landscape; reconstructing the reflecting
pool and terrace; and reproducing custom furniture; casework; art glass; metal work; and even a birdhouse. Wright's
signature urns were restored, the pergola was reconstructed, and the gardens were replanted based on original drawings,
using a combination of surviving plants and historic and heirloom plantings, under the direction of landscape architect
Carol Yetken of Oak Park, IL. Restoration of the Westcott House has expanded the body of research into the work of Frank
Lloyd Wright, and deepened local awareness of Springfield’s architectural heritage. The house has had over 10,000 visitors
since it opened last October, becoming an economic generator for the whole region through heritage tourism. The Westcott
House Foundation is capitalizing upon its success by expanding its mission to include programming promoting "design process
thinking and innovation" in addition to programs on architecture and local history for adults and children. The result is
exciting--a visit to the Westcott House is an experience that instills appreciation of Wright's innovative use of space and
natural materials; of the Westcotts as community leaders; and of Springfield at this pivotal time in its history. All of
this would not have been possible without the generosity of many donors, notably The Turner Foundation.
Past Recipients:
For a list of past Ohio Historic Preservation Office Award recipients click
here.
The Ohio Historic Preservation Office is Ohio's
official historic preservation agency. A part of the Ohio Historical Society, it identifies historic places in Ohio,
nominates properties to the National Register of Historic Places, reviews federally-assisted projects for effects on Ohio's
historic, architectural, and archaeological resources, consults on the conservation of older buildings and sites, and offers
educational programs and publications.
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