With support from a National Park Service grant, WER Architects provided comprehensive restoration services for the historic James Monroe Cox Building on the Little Rock campus of Philander Smith College. Originally constructed in 1915 as the U.M. Rose Elementary School, the building was designed by prominent local architects Charles Thompson and John Parks Arnold. The restoration preserves an important piece of Little Rock’s architectural and educational history while returning the building’s historic character and materials to their former prominence.

The project addressed a wide range of historic building materials and architectural elements, requiring careful investigation, documentation, and specialized restoration techniques. Exterior work included restoration of the terra cotta cornice and parapet coping caps, repair of the historic brick façade, restoration of limestone bands and steps, and rehabilitation of original wood windows and doors.

Interior restoration efforts focused on preserving the building’s original character and craftsmanship. Historic lime plaster over wood lath was carefully restored, along with original wood flooring and trim. Rather than replacing these materials, the project prioritized retaining and repairing as much historic fabric as possible, preserving the authentic character of the 1915 building.

Because of the building’s historic significance and the use of federal grant funding, WER worked closely with the National Park Service’s regional office in Atlanta and the Arkansas State Historic Preservation Office throughout the project. Restoration decisions were guided by the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, ensuring that proposed treatments respected the building’s historic materials, architectural character, and cultural significance.