Canning Decorative Building Arts, Receives the 2026 Addison Mizner Award from the ICAA FL Chapter in the Fine Arts Category for the Beautification of the Church of the Little Flower in Coral Gables, FL
The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art FL Chapter Honors our Beautification Restoration at the Church of the Little Flower with a 2026 Addison Mizner Award
Cheshire, CT – March 2026
John Canning & Co. is honored to announce it has been awarded a 2026 Addison Mizner Award from the Florida Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA) in the Fine Arts category. This award honors our outstanding achievement for the beautification of the Church of the Little Flower in Coral Gables, FL.
The Church of the Little Flower is a Roman Catholic Church founded in 1926 and features a domed sanctuary completed in 1951. John Canning & Co. was selected to enhance the church’s interior through a comprehensive beautification restoration effort encompassing both design and production phases.
During the design phase, we developed a cohesive color palette for the walls, ceiling and dome and provided artist renderings for the sanctuary and nave elevation designs.
In the production phase, within the sanctuary, we performed conservation cleaning on the high altar reredos grille, two side altars, and two statues. We also paint restoration of the statues at the narthex shrines along with their frames and pedestals, and modified the plaster frames to accommodate the lower ceiling.
For the dome, we installed our design of the Holy Spirit painted as a simulated mosaic on canvas, complemented by decorative gold treatments. The Oculus frieze was enriched with custom color and metallic finishes based on our design concepts. In the nave transept and frieze, our decorative designs were fabricated on canvas in-studio, then installed on site, where we also applied hand-painted treatments to the capitals.
"This project embodies our core mission: harmonizing architectural integrity, community aspirations, and liturgical significance. By leveraging our expertise in color theory and period finishes, we aim to honor both the architectural and spiritual legacy of the space. It was a true honor to collaborate with the Little Flower community to enhance their church for generations to come," said David Riccio, President at John Canning & Co.
The beautification project required extensive research, color development, decorative treatments, and advanced technical execution. Key achievements include:
- Development of Color Palette and Renderings: Developing a cohesive color palette to further beautify the interior, along with providing renderings for the sanctuary and nave elevation designs.
- Conservation Cleaning and Inpainting: Performing conservation cleaning and inpainting where necessary on the high altar grille, two side altars and their two statues, as well as the narthex shrines, two statues, frames, and pedestals. In addition to executing conservation cleaning and inpainting, we modified the plaster frames for the narthex shrines to better accommodate the ceiling height.
- Decorative Treatment for the Dome and Capitals: Executed decorative treatment on the dome using gold metallic paint to provide color continuity and embellishment, and performed decorative treatment on the capitals.
- Designing and Installing the Frieze and Holy Spirit Painting: Designing, fabricating, and installing the decorative frieze, as well as the Holy Spirit painting, perfectly placed at the top center of the dome.
"We are honored to have played a role in ensuring that the Church of the Little Flower will continue to inspire and serve its community,” stated David Riccio, President. The completed beautification brings a renewed sense of sophisticated elegance to the church's interior.
The Florida Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art is celebrating their 14th Annual Addison Mizner Award Design Competition for Excellence in Classical and Traditional Architecture. The awards program is intended to celebrate individuals and design firms in Florida and the Grand Caribbean who excel in the advancement and promotion of the ideals of classicism and traditional design in architecture, urbanism, and the allied arts.
About John Canning & Co.
John Canning & Co. is a national leader in historic preservation, conservation, and restoration. With a legacy spanning five decades, the firm specializes in architectural gilding, decorative finishes, ornamental plaster restoration, historic stonework, and woodwork conservation. Their commitment to craftsmanship and traditional techniques ensures the preservation of historic landmarks for future generations.
