Before renovations
The building, which is located on a tiny triangular lot, had been owned by a local family since the 1950s. The family brothers ran an auto parts business there until the recession hit, forcing them to close the business.
They were considering the idea of opening a new business at the location when they found a very patient potential tenant: a cellular reseller, for whom they decided to improve, alter, and renovate the entire site.
The old facility was in fair shape but needed to be updated to meet current energy standards and building code requirements. Minor leaks in the roof, visible facade stress cracking, and an outdated infrastructure made the building in its current state unsuitable for a retail tenant.
After Renovations
Exterior: To help the owners prepare the building for their potential tenant, we started by repairing the building envelope to improve energy efficiency and updating the exterior look with a new rainscreen facade of color block fiber cement panels. These well-designed panels not only enhanced the look of the building but created a water-resistive barrier on the exterior of the building. We also replaced the single glazed windows with new insulated aluminum and glass windows and doors.
Interior: The infrastructure of the facility also needed to be renovated to meet the needs of a retail tenant. We replaced the old interior finish wall with a new wall to accommodate better-than-required insulation and a concealed chase to run systems wiring. We also designed new barrier free toilet rooms and eliminated an existing interior step-down.
The tenant, who was happy with the updates, completed the interior fit out and the Verizon store has been open since the end of 2012.