EXTENDED USE / MERIT

Entry Name: The Architectural Offices, Omaha
Firm: The Architectural Offices
Photographer: Tom Kessler
Owner: The Architectural Offices

An architectural firm purchased an old mercantile building in a historic neighborhood-business district to be renovated as their studio space. The building had several prior modifications over the previous forty years resulting in the complete removal of the historic character of the building. The exterior façade was restored and a modern storefront was installed. This renovation spurred the revitalization of the entire business district.

Sustainable construction practices were utilized to reduce the project’s impact on the environment. Original pressed tin ceiling and skylights were refurbished, masonry walls were exposed and wood studs were reused in new wall framing. The existing aluminum storefront, electrical wiring, steel, wood scraps and other metals were taken to a recycler.

Jury Comments: This project is preservation at its best; a building worth restoring had its most precious architectural characteristics unmasked and complemented by a collaborative design effort. Each step in the restoration process seemed to create a new opportunity, whether through repair, reuse, or recycling.