News and Media

Article By: E. Christina Spitz
Published: May 6, 2009

A snip of a blue ribbon May 3 marked the unveiling of the newly restored Kennedy Pharmacy Building, 323 E. Broughton St., at a reception celebrating the event as part of SCAD's Preservation Week 09.

Since early 2008, SCAD historic preservation professor Jim Abraham has led more than 100 students in the rehabilitation of the former pharmacy, strangely called the Anti- Migraine Company. "I would love to know what Mr. Kennedy put in his potions!" Abraham said.

A former butler's pantry will be used as a media center equipped like a SCAD classroom. Walls were repainted after much analysis. Marble was cleaned. Gas-electric chandeliers and wall sconces were added. As a finishing touch - an afterthought-display panels were trimmed with plastic with a brass finish.

"It is neat to see a project from start to finish," said Whitney Bayers, a historic preservation student and co-president of the Student Preservation Association. "It is a great adaptation from a pharmacy to a public space."

"It is intimate and quietly elegant," Abraham said.

The building, owned by the Isaiah Davenport House, will be open for lectures, classes, exhibitions, weddings and other Davenport House events. SCAD's metal and jewelry department has already signed up to use the space for its trunk show.

The upstairs will be rented out as two-bedroom, 1 1/2 bathroom apartment with a lot of light and a balcony overlooking Broughton Street.

"I'm excited to help create a new use for the space that will allow the public to come in and enjoy and appreciate it," Abraham said.

"Seeing this storefront," said one guest, "I'd like to come in and fill a prescription!"
 
Preservation Week is an annual lecture series presented by the Student Preservation Association and the historic preservation department at SCAD, made possible in part from a grant from the Charles Evans Hughes Memorial Foundation of New York of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.