Building History

The Dwight lofts building was designed in 1910 by Schmidt, Garden & Martin as a light industrial loft building.  The building was listed on the National Register of Historic places.  In 2008 the building was substantially modified and received a 6-story structural steel frame addition as it was converted to dormitory loft residences.

Preservation and Building Pathology Challenges

The client retained Brush Architects to complete the facade investigation and restoration initially designed by Mary Brush while she was the preservation group leader and envelope specialist at
Holabird & Root.  The transition to Brush architects allowed continued oversight of the facade restoration and the critical examination.

Design Solution

The facade was restored including extensive masonry reconstruction and joint maintenance on the historic core of the building.  The curtain wall system required new high performance coating for a long term maintenance solution.  The inset terrace at the transition between the historic building and the steel framed upper floors was the original concrete deck of the building.  Brush Architects designed the solution to extensive moisture infiltration by replacing the decking and establishing a positive drainage path.