Historic Interior Design

The American Brewery Building Restored, Baltimore, Maryland

The five-story American Brewery Brewhouse building was built in 1887 in East Baltimore as part of a five-acre brewery complex. It operated as a brewhouse or beverage plant until its closing in 1973. The building and an adjacent bottling plant were donated to the City of Baltimore in 1977. After several failed redevelopment attempts by various entities, Streuver Brothers, Gotham Development and Humanim were awarded the rights to develop both properties in 2005. The long-time vacant Brewhouse has been converted into office and program space for Humanim, a 35-year old nonprofit social and human services provider.

The reuse of the American Brewery Building is a huge boon for its Broadway East neighborhood—one characterized by poverty and a high degree of abandonment and blight. Roughly half the properties in the area are vacant or have been demolished. The building was in poor condition and has undergone an extensive, $30 million rehabilitation. Approximately 80% of the existing wood windows have been retained and repaired, the west tower has undergone substantial structural repair and interior reframing throughout the building s well. New electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems have also been installed. With its completion, the Brewhouse will enable Humanim to consolidate its operations and expand its existing employment and clinical service programs. These include services for individuals with developmental, emotional, neurological and physical disabilities.

Now that the project is completed, it will return a building that has been vacant for more than 30 years into a high quality, high character home for an established social services agency that provides workforce development services and job creation opportunities to a neighborhood desperate for economic revitalization. The surrounding census tract has a 51% poverty rate and an unemployment rate more than four times the national average. A rehabilitated American Brewery Building is a beacon of hope for continued economic investment and revitalization in one of the most neglected and desperate areas of Baltimore.

- Excerpts from The National Trust Community Investment Fund

Historic Chicago Bungalow Initiative

"Launched by Mayor Richard M. Daley in September of 2000, the Historic Chicago Bungalow Initiative is designed to foster an appreciation of the Chicago Bungalow as a distinctive housing type, encourage sympathetic rehabilitation of Chicago bungalows, and assist bungalow owners with adapting their homes to current needs, which in turn helps to strengthen Chicago bungalow neighborhoods.

The Historic Chicago Bungalow Association is the non profit organization that administers the Initiative. The program offers a variety of financial resources, from grants to loans, and technical resources, from special permit assistance to "how-to" seminars. Certifying your bungalow with the Historic Chicago Bungalow Association is the first step in accessing these financial incentives and benefits." -Historic Chicago Bungalow Association

On their website they have a wonderful guideline on how to restore one of these beautiful buildings. Take a look! Download B-LOW DESIGN Guidelines 

If you are interested in getting involved or would like to know more about the Historic Chicago Bungalow Association visit their website http://www.chicagobungalow.org 

Enjoy!

The National Trust for Historic Preservation- Main Street Program

"The Main Street movement has transformed the way communities think about the revitalization and management of their commercial districts.

The Main Street Four-Point Approach® is a community-driven, comprehensive strategy used to revitalize downtown and neighborhood business districts throughout the United States. It is a common-sense way to address the variety of issues and problems that challenge traditional business districts. 

As the national leader, the National Trust Main Street Center® leads a coast-to-coast network of more than 1,200 state, regional, and local programs, powerfully linked through a preservation-based strategy for rebuilding the places and enterprises that create sustainable, vibrant, and unique communities.

Throughout the nation, communities are using the Main Street approach to revitalize their traditional commercial districts." -www.preservationnation.org

If you are interested in finding out further about this program or would like to get involved click here: http://www.preservationnation.org/main-street 

 

Ganz Hall- A Wonderful Look Into an Auditorium Restored (Chicago, IL)

At Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL Ganz Hall fell into much disrepair since its original construction in 1890. By 2003 restoration began on this Luis Sullivan original. Located in the Auditorium Building, the hall originally had plaster and carved wood ornament, 17 stained-glass lunette windows and gold-leaf stenciled arches punctuated with 10 intricate cast-iron electric-chandeliers, which were later replaced with plain white globes. Based on archival photos, new chandeliers were molded and cast, replicated down to the Edison carbon filament light bulbs. New seating, carpeting, a reconstructed stage, partial woodwork repair, and new mechanical system enhance listening to music in the hall. It is incredible how the technical aspects were approached in restoring this historically important masterpiece particularly with the craftsmanship of the lighting.