Flourishing After Fire: Flora featured in Lynchburg Business
Lynchburg Business recently caught up with Waukeshaw, the development team behind Flora, to uncover and share the wild story of how a historic middle school in Bedford, Virginia nearly burned to the ground before reemerging as a stunning multifamily community.
The Flora before – Bedford Middle School, after fire
The Flora after – in progress, nearly complete
What started as a plan to convert the historic Middle School shifted significantly after a fire damaged the structure before renovation began. The development team at Waukeshaw didn’t abandon the project; they refined it, expanding unit count and rethinking how the building could serve the community while preserving its character.
Campfire joined the project to add in a brand forward interior design, signage, and identity design that support everyday life in the building while honoring its history. Working with Emily Sanfrantella at Waukeshaw, we helped define common area layouts, finishes, color palettes, furniture, lighting, artwork, and material selections that compliment the building’s original character in ways that feel calm yet contemporary.
Branding work for Flora also played a role in shaping its identity: the visual direction is rooted in native plants and flowers and is designed to carefully compliment the next door sister property, Fauna’s brand.
Flora is part of Bedford’s broader revitalization efforts, illustrating how thoughtful design and adaptive reuse can contribute to downtown vibrancy and connect meaningfully with local history and culture.
