Frank architectural firm recipient of THC's Award of Excellence in Historic Architecture

Frank Architects, Inc., (FAI) is the recipient of this year's Texas Historical Commission Award of Excellence in Historic Architecture in recognition of the preservation and restoration of the Dimmit County Courthouse in Carrizo Springs. The award was presented to Frank Rotnofsky of FAI at the THC's 2005 Annual Preservation Conference in Austin .

The Dimmit County Courthouse was originally designed in an Italianate style in 1884 by noted Texas architect Alfred Giles, the same architect of the Webb County Courthouse. A major addition in 1926 by Henry T. Phelps increased the building size from 6,748 square feet to 13,490 square feet and stylistically transformed the courthouse from an Italianate building into the Classical Revival style. Over the years the building received few modifications that made the 1926 expansion the historical period of significance.

The $2,600,000 restoration project was funded by the State's Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program in 2002 and completed this past November 2004. Team members who worked with the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program included the Dimmit County Commissioners Court , the Dimmit County Office of Grants and Planning, the Dimmit County Historical Commission, and Stoddard Construction of San Antonio.

Aside from the Dimmit County Courthouse Restoration Project, recent Frank Architects preservation/restoration projects in Laredo include the Villa Antigua Border Heritage Museum Project, St. Augustine School Restoration Project, Bethany House Homeless Shelter, Veterans Coalition Museum , and the Federal Probation Offices. FAI associated with Ford, Powell & Carson on the restoration of the Hamilton Hotel. In 1998 the firm worked with the City of Laredo to develop a historical assessment for downtown Laredo and the City of Laredo 's first “Historic Urban Design Guidelines.” Frank Architects principals are Viviana Frank, Eduardo Quiroga, and Frank Rotnofsky. The firm employs 14 associates and is located at 901 Victoria Street in downtown Laredo .

“This was a very basic structure -- nothing lavish -- but the years had not been kind to the building,” said Frank Rotnofksy. “It was a complete gut put back together again with all modern mechanicals. We made it completely functional again and very beautiful. The limestone was re-seamed, water washed, and re-pointed. The cornices were lowered, re-tied, and re-installed. What we ended being able to do was reveal all the original ceilings and cornices and the beautiful old stained concrete floors. Benches and doors that were salvageable were used and if they were unuseable, we replicated them as we did the old windows,” Rotnofsky continued.

“It is a whole new building, but it is also like walking into a 1926 courthouse. We found a fellow in Oklahoma City who refurbishes old ceiling fans and so even the fans in the building reflect the time period,” Rotnofsky said.