The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation on May 16 recognized Greenline Architecture’s renovation of Tift, Lewis and Herring Halls at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College among the best of preservation in Georgia during its annual awards ceremony.

Tift, Lewis and Herring Halls form ABAC’s Sweetheart Circle, a common design motif of A&M school campuses during the early 20th century consisting of three buildings at one side of a grand front lawn. At ABAC, Tift Hall is the central classroom building flanked by two former dormitories, Lewis Hall and Herring Hall.  

Though altered over the years for different uses and partially abandoned, the three buildings were eyesores but remained largely intact. The rehabilitation project began in 2008 and involved work to repair water damage, replace windows with historically appropriate designs and allow for the sensitive addition of upgraded mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. The rehabilitated Tift, Lewis and Herring Halls once again proudly welcome visitors to the campus and serve as an example to other colleges of the value of historic preservation.

“Greenline was honored to have had the opportunity to work on this historic rehabilitation project that revitalized the front of ABAC’s campus,” said Monica Mastrianni, Greenline Architecture President. “We cannot express enough gratitude to the Georgia Trust for its appreciation of the dedication to these historic structures and the efforts of the design/build team,” Mastrianni said. 

Other local project partners included J.T. Turner Construction, Dulohery Weeks, Alan Glassberg and Coastal Civil Engineering.

For more than 35 years, the Trust has recognized preservation projects and individuals in the state who have made significant contributions to the field of historic preservation. Awards are presented on the basis of the contributions to the community and/or state and on compliance to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.