Preserving the Ponce: A Flagler College Documentary

Henry Flagler constructed the Hotel Ponce de Leon, a building unlike any other in the area at the time, featuring innovations such as electricity installed by Thomas Edison. Today, the building is a National Historic Landmark, recognized for its distinctive architecture and forward-thinking design.

Contractor A.D. Davis was asked to take the lead on renovation efforts, turning Henry Flagler’s former Hotel Ponce de Leon into the College’s main residential and administrative spaces.

In the summer of 2022, a burst fire-suppression pipe in the East Wing damaged the Ponce de Leon Hall, then in its 134th year. The College saw an opportunity to address modern needs while preserving one of its most recognizable landmarks. Mike Davis, grandson of A.D. Davis, and his son Reese led a team of more than 100 workers through the multimillion-dollar renovation of the National Historic Landmark. The project began by upgrading the building’s infrastructure to modern standards while protecting the historic features that make it unique.

Completed in August 2023, the East Wing renovation welcomed students back for the 2023 - 2024 academic year with modern amenities and updated living spaces while preserving the building’s historic character. The project included new electrical and plumbing systems, an updated HVAC system to better regulate temperature and humidity, renovated laundry and bathrooms, redesigned lounge and study areas, a new terracotta roof, improved insulation, and updated fire safety equipment.

The yearlong renovation also uncovered pieces of the Ponce’s history hidden for decades, including 17 original fireplaces behind the East Wing’s walls and historic wallpaper designs that are being cataloged and preserved, with the hope of replicating them in the future.

Following the East Wing renovation, work on the Ponce’s West Wing began in May 2024, after students left campus for the summer. The project included similar infrastructure and restoration improvements, along with careful attention to the historic details of the Flagler Room.

Restoration crews completed delicate work above the Flagler Room, addressed minor repairs, cleaned and restored chandeliers, and sanded and stained the wood floors. Old carpeting was removed, and walls were repainted to reflect the room’s original colors. Work also began on the Rotunda, along with the development of a new air-conditioning chiller plant behind the Proctor Library to support the building’s climate-control needs.

Restoration work continued on the Ponce’s West Wing and the Rotunda, alongside construction of a new chiller plant to support the building’s climate-control needs.

Throughout the project, the College remained focused on preserving the Ponce’s historic character while carefully incorporating modern amenities. The West Wing reopened to students in August 2025, marking another milestone in the ongoing effort to preserve and modernize this historic landmark.

On Jan. 14, Flagler College welcomed community members to Lewis Auditorium for the premiere of Preserving the Ponce, a documentary highlighting the history and restoration of the former Hotel Ponce de Leon. Following the screening, guests had an opportunity to tour the newly renovated Ponce Hall during a special open house, offering a first look at the restored landmark.