Brownstone & Historic Structure Renovations

FACADE RESTORATION FRO HISTORIC AND LANDMARKED PROPERTIES

CONVERSIONS AND ADAPTIVE REUSE The Strong Place Baptist Churchwas designed in the Gothic Revival style byMinard Lafever, a carpen- ter with no formal architectural training who nonetheless designed four buildings now recognized as National Historic Landmarks. Completed in 1852, this building served as a church for a century and a half, but by the turn of the millennium was in disrepair and mostly vacant, with substantial water infiltration ruining many of its original architectural features.DEI worked with Baxt Ingui Architects to convert the church into condominiums -- 24 residential units in all -- while preserving the exterior brownstone shell and roof lines to meet the stringent requirements of New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission. New steel framework was erected within the multistory spaces, creating four new residential floor levels, and a new cellar level was excavated for storage space. Three-sto- ry additions, in keeping with the original architecture, further expanded the overall space to 56,000 SF.During construction, DEI was engaged to design temporary bracing for the massive perimeter ma- sonry walls. Comprising steel beams and tension rods, the bracing system enabled demolition and removal of the interior structural components within the masonry shell. Bracing remained in place until the new 4-story frame could re-stabilize the perimeter walls.A particular challenge was the re- configuration of the original scissor trusses to increase head room and create higher areas of cathedral ceiling at the top floors. The structural design of this reconfiguration demanded engineering that is simultaneously creative and judicious, a combination DEI is known for in its historic and adaptive reuse projects. Our partners in this project, Baxt Ingui Architects, were presented with the Design Award of Merit from the American Institute of Architects, Brooklyn, for their outstanding work. Completed project photos courtesy of Peter Peirce