Smith Supply Warehouse
VIP Architectural Associates, Pllc
Syracuse, NY
Additional information
The Smith Supply Warehouse project is the adaptive reuse of two historic structures into a mixed-use residential apartment building. The design team created a concept to transform a three-story warehouse built in the 1800s and a six-story warehouse built in the early 1900s into 38 modern luxury apartments and about 2,500 square feet of ground floor commercial space.
An essential component of this project was preserving as much of the original historic fabric of the two buildings while integrating today's modern amenities and technologies. The restoration of the façade includes a total window replacement that replicates the initial window configuration, preservation of the original signage, and repainting. The buildings are connected via three floorplates, creating a unified structure and straightforward flow and wayfinding. A six-story contemporary stairwell addition offers a second form of egress and an architectural nod to the future.
On the inside, an efficient layout allows for 38 one-bedroom apartments across six floors. With 460sf to 675sf of space, each apartment utilizes open floor plans to amplify living space, incorporate energy-efficient lighting and mechanical systems, and maximize natural daylight. In addition, historical elements such as original hardwood or concrete flooring and exposed brick incorporate aspects of the building's past into everyday use.
During the 1960s, many canal-era buildings were demolished to make way for the construction of Interstate 81 - but 500 and 506 Erie Boulevard East remained. Today these buildings are examples of the architecturally significant historical structures that once were a part of Syracuse’s vibrant industrial history. By revitalizing 500 and 506 Erie Boulevard East into a mixed-use facility, the building has the opportunity to bring new life into the vacant neighborhood, catalyze future developments, and attract even more people together in this historic locale.
PROJECT TEAM:
Design Firm: VIP Architectural Associates, PLLC Bob Garner Kevin Lepak
Contractor/Construction Manager: Rich & Gardner Construction Company
MEP Engineering / Structural Engineering consultant: IPD Engineering
Site/Civil Engineering and Landscape Architect: Keplinger Freeman Associates
Jury
The Jury said:
Fantastic historic renovation, buidling looks modern without compromising the historic shell
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