The Project
Renovation and conversion of an existing school building into 41 multi-family residential units. The Buchanan School was established in 1895 and operated until 1993. Its Romanesque Revival-style exterior was mostly preserved. A new addition was added to create additional units between the 1895 South building and the 1922 North building. Many units have private outdoor spaces, and the tall windows provide plenty of access to natural light.
Structural features
The building conversion from educational to residential required substantial structural modifications, including the removal of portions of the structure. The 1895 South building original structure consisted of timber floors supported on load-bearing brick walls. Many of these interior walls were removed and replaced with steel framing. Architecturally exposed, steel-framed balconies are cantilevered from the existing brick façade. The 1922 North building original structure consisted of concrete slabs and beams supported on load-bearing masonry walls, portions of which were removed. The link building addition was framed using light gage steel stud bearing walls supporting wood floor and roof trusses, and creates a transition between the differing floor elevations of the North and South buildings.
