Students from the University of Miami designed a master plan for the proposed American College of the Building Arts campus on the historic McLeod Plantation. The plan may never get built but showcases the potential of a marriage between a historic site and a school that trains building artisans.
PLANTATION HOUSE The main plantation house was updated in the 1920s, but the University of Miami plan calls for the building to be retrofitted and the historical details restored. Ultimately, it would be used to house a library, archival storage, and a caretaker's apartment.
DAIRY HOUSE An early 19th century passive cooling system keeps the original 12-foot-by-25-foot dairy cool and tranquil. The eastern half of the building sits on piers, while the western half is built over a root cellar.
LIBRARY Inspired by octagonal barn types found throughout the South, the proposed library is similar to the plantation's main house in scale but would appear smaller due to a lower ground elevation. A brick base transitions to wood, separated by a masonry lintel, to reflect the trades of the school; likewise, each trade occupies one wall of the library inside.
