Adaptive Reuse » Residential

Knox Church Residence

pete — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 21:48:13 +0000

History
Established by John Knox, The Kirk was built in 1867 in the Melbourne suburb of Elsternwick. The building features brick polychrome which was at the height of its popularity during its construction. Alternating cream and umber brick mark the gear-tooth points and wrap the building in tiny quoins. The church became an icon for the community with its style being mimicked in a nearby substation as well as homes.^[1]

(Re)Developer
The team at Williams Boag Architects (WBa) has expertise in architecture, planning, urban design, and interior design. With a focus on a sustainable future, WBa has handled a number of adaptive reuse projects since their founding in 1975. Some of their adaptive reuse projects include the conversions of the Melbourne GPO Building (post office to retail hub), the Ancient Times House (warehouse to affordable youth housing), and the former Uniting Church (church to apartments).

Outcome
Through the adaptive reuse process, WBa was able to retain the shell of the church as well as the original flooring. Even the original pulpit remains in the new home, moved only about 10 feet. The interior now includes segmented rooms within the large space of the church. A new garage was added separate from the church while a carport was attached to the family room.^[2]

This once community space for worshipping has now been repurposed for the benefit of a single family. While the community may have lost a gathering space, the surrounding area has been strengthened by the retained style and new life of the conversion.

The Candy Factory Lofts

pete — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:44:21 +0000

History
Dating back to the 1930s, this warehouse is located west of downtown Toronto in the West Queen Street neighborhood. It previously had been used as a Ce De Candy Company factory, the makers of Smarties.^[1]

(Re)Developer
Quandrangle Architects undertook the conversion of the warehouse. The firm focuses on the rehabilitation and conversion of existing buildings, as well as historical restorations and renovations.

Outcome
Creating new loft residences out of the factory, the building now provides a great housing option in a neighborhood of restaurants, art galleries, and bars. The six-story post and beam loft building now houses 121 loft units. Some of the amenities enjoyed by the residents include 24-hour concierge service, a party room, a guest suite, fitness room, roof terraces and wide hallways.^[2]

Oxford House

pete — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:27:46 +0000

History
The historic Christian Science Church was constructed in 1940. It served as the home for the First Church of Christ in the village of Newtonville in Newton, Massachusetts. Designed by Densmore, LeClear and Robbins architects in the Colonial Revival style, the structure served its initial purpose until it was sold in 2004.^[1]

(Re)Developer
The developer that purchased the building and initiated its conversion was World Realty + Development of Newton. The architect that performed the adaptive reuse was Jai Singh Khalsa.

Khalsa specializes in the design of affordable housing and government projects and has performed numerous adaptive reuse projects since founding the firm in 1980.

Outcome
The religious structure has been given new life as 11 condominium homes. The units feature 16-foot ceilings with lofts up to 25-feet high, with one unit that includes a two-story library in the steeple.^[2] The redevelopment was also the first project in Newton under the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance. The ordinance, adopted in 2003, required that any new residential development needed 15% of the units set as affordable in perpetuity.^[3]

Sand Studios and Residence

pete — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:14:28 +0000

History
Built in 1943 as part of the redevelopment of South Park into a light industrial area, the warehouse was utilized for a number of decades.^[1] South Park had originally been created 1852 as an exclusive residential district in San Francisco. The area began to “decline” after the construction of Second Street opened the area to a wider demographic. This resulted in the wealthy residents moving to Nob Hill in the late 19th century. Much of the neighborhood was destroyed during the earthquake of 1906. This vacant land then found a new purpose as a light industrial district.^[2]

(Re)Developer
Larissa and Jeff Sand purchased the warehouse in 2003 to relocate their family and business Sand Studios. Larissa is a designer who studied architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, while her husband, Jeff, is an industrial designer.^[3] Their firm, Sand Studios, combines minimalist design with material expression, refined details and atmospheric lighting.

Outcome
The warehouse was saved from demolition when a development company planning to replace the building with new condominiums had lost its financing. Larissa saw the opportunity to reuse the structure and provide a new home for her family and business after a fire forced them out of their previous location. The 8,500-square-foot masonry-and-timber post-and-beam structure is located on a 3,730-square-foot corner lot just one block from the neighborhood’s oval park. The three story structure was divided into the family’s residence on the top floor, the studio office on the second floor, and the studio’s machine shop on the ground floor. The ground floor also now includes a 2,500-square-feet gallery space that may be used to rent out for retail uses in the future.

Ample skylights and windows provide plenty of daylight and natural ventilation. Larissa focused on reusing as many of the original building materials in the renovation. Any elements that needed to be replaced were accomplished through natural and/or recycled materials. A central two-story atrium was added to bring light into the 7-foot-10-inch-high office and allows workers to observe the shop below.

“The Sand Studios restoration project is a welcome addition to a neighborhood that has survived natural and economic catastrophes and struggles to overcome myriad new real estate developments. With its side doors rolled open, the building emits the lively sounds of buzzing machines and friendly banter. Activity animates the place day and night. The Sands have not only revived a spot that might have become another generic condo, they’ve infused it with a spirit of innovation, rehabilitation, and reuse that embodies San Francisco’s history of enterprise and recovery.”^[4]

Garden Street Lofts

pete — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:59:10 +0000

History
Located at 1425 Garden Street in Hoboken, this 1919 building once served as both a storage warehouse and coconut processing plant. The factory processed coconuts to be used as shredded toppings on Hostess snowball cupcakes.^[1]

(Re)Developer
The developer of the conversion was Lawrence Bijou or Bijou Properties. The firm focuses its efforts on acquiring and transforming under-performing properties and converting them into first-class buildings. Along with this, green building practices are implemented.^[2]

SHoP Architects was brought on to lead the conversion project. The Manhattan-based firm includes architectural and construction divisions. Their projects span the US as well as in China and South Korea.^[3]

Outcome
Bijou and SHoP successfully finished the conversion project in 2009, resulting in 30 luxury condominiums and a sedum ground-covered, grassy roof for carbon monoxide emissions. The mixed residential high-rise is the first such building in New Jersey to also receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification which it was awarded in 2010.^[4]

The construction process utilized environmentally-friendly strategies and materials to repurpose the old factory, so as to create a reduced carbon footprint for its tenants. With the reuse of the building being the ultimate green aspect, the building also includes: cleaner, filtered fresh air; low-VOC paints and finishes; high ceilings and large windows for more natural light and reduced heating/cooling needs; sedum-covered green roof; energy requirements purchased from wind and other alternative energy resources.^[5]

The project is helping transform an area once known for its industry into a healthy environment for families looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact.^[6]

Yale Steam Laundry

pete — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:03:39 +0000

History
The old commercial laundry building is located in the Mt. Vernon area of Washington, DC. The century-old building is marked by numerous architectural details on its facade.^[1]

(Re)Developer
The adaptive reuse project was a joint undertaking by developers IBG Partners, LLC and Greenfield Partners. IBG is a privately-held firm that focuses its developments in Washington, DC, New York, Baltimore, and Charleston, SC. Greenfield is a private real estate investment firm located in South Norwalk, Connecticut.

John Ronan Architects is located in Chicago and caters to landscape design, interior design, furniture design, graphic design and planning.

Outcome
The entire project includes the adaptive reuse of the steam laundry building which resulted in 16 lofts as well as the construction of two towers for an additional 343 lofts.^[2] “The architects elected to adapt the building into an amenity-infused condominium, leaving much of the original brick and concrete in place. Even the oddly spaced floor framing was allowed to remain.” This adaptive reuse project received an AIA Chicago 2009 Design Excellence Award. The existing piping and columns remained, retaining a sense of asymmetry.^[3]

Sugar Warehouse Loft

pete — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:55:54 +0000

History
The old sugar warehouse was built in 1763. It’s located on the Bloemgracht canal in Amsterdam. The building and its interior have largely gone untouched/unmodified for about 250 years.

(Re)Developer
George Gottl and Oliver Michell are both the owners and residents of the loft as well as the owners and directors of UXUS Design which handled the reuse of the interiors. UXUS is an independent design consultancy specializing in strategic design solutions.^[1]

Outcome
“In keeping the original open-plan layout we created a series of dramatic curtain walls that could be opened and closed according to the needs of use. Made of luxurious Italian linen, the curtain walls are opaque when lit from the front yet transparent from behind. At night, the space becomes a series of glowing tents, creating the effect of a surreal interior landscape.”^[2] Located on one of the ever-popular canals, this loft conversion offers its residents great access and views of the city.

Nozkowski and Robins Residence

pete — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:13:40 +0000

History
This synagogue on Hester Street in New York City has seen many uses over its lifetime. Aside from its original use as a place of worship, the building has also served as an underwear factory, shower-curtain factory, the neighborhood still, a Chinese laundry, and a fabric store.

(Re)Developer
Thomas Nozkowski and Joyce Robins married in 1967 after they finished art school. Nozkowski is a painter while his wife Robins is a sculptor.

Outcome
The couple purchased the building in 1969 and undertook the adaptive reuse project with only $3,000. They had to install the electrical and water lines. The building’s simple, open plan was consistent with their work and living philosophies. Through their studies with Abstract Impressionists, they solidified their belief that it is morally important to live and work in the same place. The synagogue-turned-studio where they worked on their art (and raised their son, Casimir) is unchanged since those renovations.

Items in the photos:

The skylight and windows
The balcony where women sat to be separate from men during services
Robin’s workspace with some of her sculptures
Refinished wood floors
Large geometric wood-frame couch build by Nozkowski’s father
Stained-glass window
Rear wall used to project movies for gatherings
Open studio space^[1]

Fields Corner Municipal Building

pete — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:14:10 +0000

History
Built in 1874, this building served multiple purposes. It housed the Boston neighborhood’s District 11 Police Station as well as the first branch public library in the United States. It was designed in the Victorian Gothic style by George Clough, the first official architect for the City of Boston. The building was closed down in the 1970s and then experienced a number of fires in the 1980s. It is now currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[1]

(Re)Developer
The Fields Corner Community Development Corporation (FCCDC) is dedicated to facilitating the availability of housing and promoting economic development in order to enhance the environment for a healthy residential life in the Dorchester area of Boston, Massachusetts. FCCDC was formed by a coalition of neighborhood organizations already active in improving their respective neighborhoods: Clampoint Neighborhood Association, Dorchester Gardenlands Preserve and Development Corporation, Dorchester Neighbors Organizing Neighbors, Freeport Adams Development Corporation, and Meeting House Hill Improvement. Incorporated on April 11, 1980, its purpose was to plan and stimulate development in the Fields Corner Community to encourage further growth of the area as a residential community and to maintain a stable business community. FCCDC indicated in its Article of Organization that it would accomplish this mission by promoting business ventures and providing assistance to neighborhood groups which are involved in designing and planning activities within the Fields Corner target area.^[2]

Outcome
The City of Boston had planned to raze the building, but FCCDC successfully blocked the action in court. Subsequently an intricate package of financing to rehabilitate the property was brought together by the Fields Corner CDC, who acted as developer on the construction. The property reopened in 1985 with 13 units of affordable rental housing on the second and third floors and commercial space on the first floor. Additional funding was required to renovate the old jail in the basement to a space suitable for a restaurant.^[3]

The adaptive reuse of this old municipal building within the heart of Fields Corner is a great step to rebuilding and strengthening the community. Rather than losing its character to the wrecking ball, Fields Corner CDC has successfully shown that there is opportunity in the abandoned building as well as within the community itself. The great mix of uses within the renovated building will ensure constant use and activity for years to come.

The PowerHouse

pete — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:01:15 +0000

History
The Long Island power station was built in 1906 to further enhance New York City’s transportation network. It served to power and expand the Long Island and Pennsylvania Railroads. Georgia O’Keefe used the building as a centerpiece to her painting “Across the East River” in the 1920s. The building was vacant for a decade and used as a plumbing warehouse.^[1]

(Re)Developer
The vacant structure was purchased in 2004 by CGS Developers. The year prior, they had passed up buyer the site but changed course when the city rezoned the area for residential development. Along with the steam plant, the group also bought the neighboring Schwartz Chemical Plant to be included in the redevelopment.^[2]

Outcome
CGS has successfully converted the old plant into upscale residential condominiums. The adaptive reuse of the old plant is just the first step in the project’s three phases. This first phase provides 177 living units. The four steam stacks were removed due to structural issues, but glass towers were put in their place and provide additional living space. CGS’s intent to reuse the building however sees to have conflicting reports. Initially, the firm had planned to demolish the entire building and put four separate buildings in its place. One report claims reuse of the building was necessary due to the high costs of demolition, while another report states demolition would have saved money but that the public outcry against destruction made CGS change their mind. In the end however the building was converted and added onto. The desire is that this redevelopment and repurposing will help to spur additional investment in the community.^[3]