South Side Elementary School constructed in 1922, is the oldest school in Ft. Lauderdale, built after the city recognized the need for neighborhood schools. The city of Ft. Lauderdale engaged R.J. Heisenbottle Architects to provide historic preservation and master planning services for restoration of the South Side School and redevelopment of Florence Hardy Park. RJHA assembled a highly experienced team of preservation architects, engineers and theatre consultants to carry out the project. The historic school building’s exterior was restored to its original appearance, while the school’s interior was redesigned to meet the programmatic requirements of the City for a Neighborhood Community Arts Center. The building will have dedicated spaces for art and ceramics studios, computer classrooms, music classrooms, a fitness studio, a dance studio, a recital room, culinary classroom and an outdoor stage and amphitheatre. In 2006, South Side was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
