Original Building
This project started as a 50-year-old 5,000 square foot one story brick, bank building with the original job fabricated wood girder trusses, a wood frame roof and the original vault.
The location, age, history and use combined to create a building with historical significance
Phase I Construction
Research showed that the building just missed being qualified for a historic designation the Historic Commission was proposing. This made it possible, in the spirit of historic significance, to modify the exterior look and feel of the completed project to satisfy the owners desires and strengthen the character of the building.
Multiple goals were established prior to starting the design and construction process of this three-phase project.
The goals and requirements started with maintaining and strengthening the historic mid century colonial southwest character of the bank building as a part of re purposing the use to the marketing of native and south west art, crafts and furnishings.
Because the building was surrounded by public spaces and some plazas, it was decided to create entrances to the building on all sides and plazas on the sides without plazas.
Completed Renovation
Another requirement was the addition of a second floor to be used as a residence without impacting the retail business on the first floor.
This and its relation to historic considerations, desired by the historic commission, created some unique challenges, some of which are.
The exterior look was continued into the interior of the building where the original brick walls, wood framed roof and vault were sandblasted with care to remove 50 years of dust and paint, thus restoring their original character. Some original wrought iron light fixtures with historic significance were reused.
Some traditional materials were used in contemporary ways along with some contemporary fixtures to create an inviting, blended feel.
All architectural, structural, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning and electrical requirements of the second floor had to be determined and included in the renovation without a completed second floor design. Special steel columns were designed and installed to support the future second floor while keeping the existing roof intact.
Lengthily conversations concerning the impact of removing the plaster on the interior walls as it would impact the display of art. The decision to remove the plaster proved to be a good decision as the brick created a warm non interfering backdrop art. Flagstone was utilized for some accent walls and some flooring areas. Lighting included relocating some original wrought iron fixtures by a well-known local blacksmith and adding display lighting. The owner and I traveled to Albuquerque and met with the owner of a millwork company to get the custom exterior doors and other millwork fabricated. The exterior door pulls were designed and created by an artist from Texas.
The existing parking and alley were reconfigured, improved and landscaped to create multiple small plazas with pleasant seating areas to encourage pedestrian traffic. Used sand cast brick was located, imported, cleaned and utilized throughout the project to carry on the historic nature of the building.
The original roof had to be replaced and remain in place after construction of the second floor above. An elevator was required. The roof top heating and air-conditioning system for the first floor were to remain in place along with the new air-conditioning for the second floor.
Construction contract negotiations for the second floor, on behalf of the owner, resulted in a substantial savings with no change in quality.
The project took more than two years with daily job site visits which included design changes, consultation with the owner and construction observation on an ongoing basis.
There are two statements which validate the commitments, time, creativity and teamwork involved.
One was made by a local resident. “The building is too good for Scottsdale. It ought to be in Santa Fe.”
The other was by the owner “I would have never thought that the way the building looks would cause people to go in.”
Project Information
- The site was approximately 130′ wide by 124′ deep with an area of approximately 16,100 square feet.
- The site was zoned commercial with a 23′ setback on the front.
- At my request the city waived the retention requirements.
- The parking requirements were met.
- The completed project was about 9,300 square feet.
- The floor area ratio was approximately 58 percent.
- Open space requirements were exceeded.
