Powell Hall Valdosta State University
Powell Hall was originally constructed in 1940 as the campus library for Valdosta State University. The building, a Works Progress Administration project, was part of the Library Services Program that built 2,300 libraries across the United States. The recent renovation was undertaken as an interior restoration and adaptive reuse project to support the functions of the campus music department. When the building was converted to a tiered lecture hall in 1978, the original reading room was cut off from the lobby and the engraved stone entablature was obscured. The original lobby and reading room have now been rehabilitated as a flexible recital hall with original architectural details restored. The solid masonry construction of this 1940s structure provides an acoustic separation between spaces which has enabled the integration of numerous practice rooms for individuals and ensembles giving the building a new life and purpose.
Excellence in Rehabilitation Awards recognize projects that make compatible use of a building through repair, alterations or additions while preserving features of the property that convey its historic value.
