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Restoration planned for Pinecote Pavilion
PICAYUNE – An award-winning Mississippi landmark is scheduled to undergo restoration to preserve its beauty and architectural integrity for future generations.
The Pinecote Pavilion, designed by American Institute of Architects Fellow and Gold Medal winner E. Fay Jones, is a major attraction at Mississippi State University’s Crosby Arboretum. The open-air, all-wood structure is constructed of native longleaf pine and fastened together with nails, dowels and metal connections. The entire building was designed to be exposed to the elements so all components would be completely visible.
Patricia Drackett, arboretum director, said the upcoming restoration will interest visitors and architecture enthusiasts familiar with Jones’ work.
“We’re excited about this upcoming restoration, and we know the visitors who come to the arboretum specifically to see the Pinecote Pavilion will be pleased as well,” Drackett said. “I believe this project will capture the eye of the architectural world. The Crosby Arboretum is located adjacent to I-59, and many travelers drop in on a cross-country journey because the Pavilion is on their ‘bucket list’ of buildings by Fay Jones.”
Construction on Pinecote Pavilion began in 1985. The structure was dedicated and opened to the public in November 1986. When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, the pavilion sustained moderate damage.
In 1990, Jones’ Pinecote Pavilion won the American Institute of Architects’ Honor Award for Design Excellence, the organization’s highest design recognition. The pavilion was the first Mississippi building to receive this honor.
Tom Howorth, principal architect and president of Howorth and Associates in Oxford and a Fellow in the American Institute of Architects, will lead the project. The restoration will mend the state landmark in accordance with Mississippi Department of Archives and History guidelines.
“We are pleased that the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration through the Bureau of Building has chosen to devote funds to the restoration of the pavilion,” said Greg Bohach, vice president of MSU’s Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine. “It is one of the major architectural attractions in our system, and renovation is certainly needed. We appreciate and thank those who are helping make this happen.”
The estimated bid date is November 2013, with an anticipated completion date of June 2014.
