This was an amazing project that I had the good fortune to work on from 2007 through 2009. The owners of the severely deteriorated Lowell School purchased it to save it from demolition with the intent of transforming this old school house into housing for low income seniors. At the point that I started working on this project the building had been listed on the National Historic Register and owners had begun a dialog with the National Parks Service and the state historic preservation office about the adaptive reuse of the building.
My role was to work with the owners to create conceptional floor plans for the three existing public levels into one and two bedroom apartments. The biggest challenge for the making the project feasible was converting the unimproved attic space into usable living space by adding stairways, an elevator, and natural lighting with roof windows.
Materials produced included site plans, detailed floor plans for each of the four levels showing changes and additions to the existing structure, elevation drawings of the proposed exterior changes, and photo elevations showing proposed exterior changes.
Once the proposed changes were accepted by the National Parks Service and State Historic Preservation the conceptual plans were transferred to the General Contractor and project architect for review and submittal for permitting.
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From the Kansas Preservation Alliance Website
Lowell Elementary School, Kansas City
Medallion Award for Rehabilitation to Historic Lowell Lofts, LLC
Lowell Elementary School is located in the Riverview Neighborhood in Kansas City, Kansas. The school is the neighborhood landmark in and otherwise residential area and was nominated to the National Register as being representative of the renowned regional architect W.W. Rose's work displaying an unrestrained interpretation of the Classical Revival style with Beaux Arts decorative elements and incorporating towers into the overall theme.
Constructed in 1897, this former school is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building was severely deteriorated before adaptation into 26 apartments for low-income senior citizens. Byers Gunn and Hart Architects collaborated with Gastinger Walker Harden Architects and Shift Modern on the rehabilitation design and Foutch Brothers LLC along with T&G Custom Millwork served as the project contractor. Additional assistance was provided by Hired Hand Communication LLC, Community National Bank, Spencer Fane Britt & Broun, Commerce Bank and Historic Preservation Partners, Inc.
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