St. Louis' Golden Opportunity

In MFE Magazine's January 2009 issue, Rosemann's G.W. Lofts project was highlighted in the publication's "FACE LIFT" section noting the project's colorful facade renovation. The article titled "Golden Opportunity," quotes Rosemann's Project Architect Gary Rogowski, AIA, LEED AP discussing the projects challenges and how the design was developed.

Rogowski, along with developer Nat Walsh, also provide helpful tips that designers and developers should consider when working on a historic renovation project. Here's what author Elizabeth Lunday wrote under the article's "Historic Hang-ups" section:

1. LOOK FOR THE HIDDEN TREASURES. Walking through the old Guth Complex buildings was a depressing exercise - it was dusty, dingy and dark. Yet a little investigation revealed the stunning gold brick underneath the exterior's white paint. The lesson: You never know what gift historic buildings are going to give you.

2. THINK OLD - SCHOOL. It's rare to find the original plans for historic buildings, so you won't always know what you're dealing with. The solution is to put yourself in the mind of an architect 100 years ago, says Rogowski. "You have to consider what it was like [and] what methods and means of construction were available then. Try to understand the history, not just of the building but of the people constructing it," he says.

3. CHOOSE WAREHOUSES, NOT OFFICES. One advantage of renovating warehouses instead of offices is the freedom of determining how to use your space - particularly when you're dealing with historic tax credits and the requirements of the National Park Service, says Nat Walsh, developer and founder of St. Louis based McGowan & Walsh Historic Renovators. The Park Service wants offices to retain a sense of their former floor plan, which restricts how you can lay out units. Warehouses have no such constraint.

To read the article in its entirety visit http://www.multifamilyexecutive.com/industry-news.asp?sectionID=544&articleID=837413.

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