Rhino Shield Gives Lasting Protection To The King Center in Atlanta

What Is The King Center?

Officially known as The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, it is a memorial dedicated to advancing the legacy and ideas of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a prominent leader in the American civil rights movement. Established in 1968 by Coretta Scott King, Dr. King’s widow, The King Center is a historical and cultural attraction.

The King Center encompasses several buildings and facilities, including Dr. King’s birth home, Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he and his father pastored, and the King Center, where Dr. King and Coretta Scott King’s tombs are located. It also houses a museum that chronicles the American civil rights movement and the role of Dr. King in it. The King Center is a hub for ongoing educational and advocacy work in Dr. King’s spirit, focusing on nonviolent protest to achieve social change.

How Was Rhino Shield Georgia Coatings Involved?

It all started 20 years ago when Rhino Shield Georgia Coatings applied Rhino Shield to the home of Dr. Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and current director of the King Center in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Twenty years later, Dr. Bernice King was so impressed by the longevity of the original Rhino Shield coating that she asked Rhino Shield Georgia Coatings to do the same and help protect the King Center.

Read What Rhino Shield Georgia Coatings Has To Say About The Project

“Dr. Bernice King is one of the most amazing people I’ve met,” said Rhino Shield Georgia Coatings dealer Jeff Ecklund. “Just a down to earth person who’s very likeable. She was so impressed with how well the original coating on her home is still holding up she asked us to help her protect the King Center, and we’re honored to have accomplished that.”

The MLK Center, located in Atlanta and established in 1965 by Mrs. Coretta Scott King, is a place where people can visit the final resting place of Dr. Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King, learn more about Dr. King and his work through exhibits in Freedom Hall, and see the King Center’s library and archives.

“The King Center is a national treasure,” said Rhino Shield Georgia Coatings dealer Roxanne Ecklund. “To be asked to help preserve and protect the Center is quite an honor. We knew Rhino Shield would produce lasting results.”

The job took careful planning and execution, as prep work and coating had to take place while the Center was open. Jeff Ecklund said they had to do the work in stages to keep the Center operational and leave room for visitors to move between different areas.

“This was a challenging job that took longer than normal as we worked carefully around schedules and people visiting the center,” said Jeff Ecklund. “There was a lot of planning and staging that went in this process — to be able to work without impacting the visitors in any way — and to ensure nothing was interrupted.”

In addition to protecting the stucco walls, the job involved a lot of detail work, including stenciled quotes on the walls, delicate seals, planters, and handrails.

“In addition to logistical hurdles, there was a lot of intricate details that needed special care,” said Jeff Ecklund. “We could also apply Floor Shield to the Center’s garage floor. It’s great when we can protect an entire property like that. I’m so happy we were able to be a part of that.”

Both Roxanne and Jeff Ecklund hold special memories of the Center.

“Jeff and I were so moved by the somberness and calming nature of the King Center,” said Roxanne Ecklund. “That is a very special place — both educational and inspirational.”