FORDify the Arts Courtyard
The FORDify the Arts Courtyard transforms a former asphalt alley beside the historic Rogers Kiene Building into a vibrant public space for art, culture, and community events. Interstruct provided no-fee architecture and construction management services for the project, reinforcing our commitment to urban infill, adaptive reuse, and civic placemaking in Downtown Orlando.
The vision for the courtyard was led by Dr. Paul Skomsky as a tribute to his late friend Ford Kiene—an Orlando preservationist who restored the adjacent 1886 building and donated it to the City of Orlando. The Downtown Arts District and the FORDify the Arts team raised funds for the project, while Interstruct’s in-house design+build team brought it to life using salvaged elements from the former Church Street Ballroom.
More than a public space, the courtyard is a cultural connector. By converting an underutilized lot into a walkable, open-air venue, the project adds lasting social, economic, and cultural value to the heart of downtown. It preserves pieces of Orlando’s past while creating a new civic gathering place that supports the arts and strengthens the urban fabric.
In 2024, the project was recognized with a Golden Brick Award for Public Works & Placemaking by the Downtown Orlando Partnership.
Photos by Harry Lim Photography
