National Historic Landmark Context Study and Six NHL Nominations

With Storrow Kinsella Associates

Columbus, Indiana

2000

This project recognized the large group of extraordinary works of Modern design located in Columbus, Indiana, and the process of patronage that brought them into being. One of the first projects nationally that recognized Modern design, it was also a was groundbreaking for the Federal and State Historic Preservation systems. It was the first National Historic Landmark Multiple Property listing that recognized Modern Architecture. It also was remarkable, in that of the six resources in the group, only one was older than the normal minimum age of 50 years, one still had its original residents, and the architect of one was still living.

The project consisted of a lengthy study of the history of Modern design in Bartholomew County. Nominations were prepared for six individual buildings:

• First Christian Church, Eliel and Eero Saarinen (1942

• Irwin Union Bank and Trust, Eero Saarinen (1954)

• Miller House and Garden, Eero Saarinen (1957)

• Mabel McDowell School, John Carl Warnecke (1960)

• North Christian Church, Eero Saarinen (1964)

• First Baptist Church, Harry Weese and Associates (1965)

Photographs:

First Christian Church: Hedrich Blessing, Yale Archive

Irwin Union Bank: Hedrich Blessing, Former Irwin Union Archive

Miller House: Balthazar Korab, National Archive

Mabel McDowell School:-Photographer Unknown. Columbus Indiana Architectural Archive

North Christian Church: Balthazar Korab, Library of Congress

First Baptist Church: Declan Haun. National Archive

With Laura Thayer, Preservation Consultant

Columbus, Indiana

2011

The Republic newspaper building, was designed by Myron Goldsmith, a General Partner at Skidmore Owings and Merrill (SOM, Chicago). Completed in 1971, the building was part of a larger urban renewal project conceived of by Goldsmith dating to the mid 1960’s. Only 40 years old when designated, it is one of the “youngest” buildings to attain NHL status, an indicator of its significance.

The Republic is a contributing structure to the existing NHL multiple property listing “Modernism in Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Design in Bartholomew County” , which was updated as part of this nomination.

The building recently became home of the Irwin Miller Architecture Program of Indiana University, Bloomington.

Photograph: Ezra Stoller

Various Locations

National Register Nominations have included:

• Lowry House, C. 1825, Bentonville, IN. Listed 1982. In a state of near-collapse when nominated, the house has since been restored.

• Murray Theatre, 1909, Richmond, IN. Listed 1982. The home of a thriving local theatre company since 1949.

• Samuel Smith Farm, 1888, Richmond, IN Listed 1983. A significant Italianate house, part of an extensive farm complex including domestic outbuildings, barns and other agricultural buildings, and a c. 1820 log house.

• David Aikens House, 1877. Listed 2001. One of a handful of notable 19th century farmhouses in Bartholomew County.

• Evans Lustron House, 1949. Nomination in review.

The Lambert Noblitt House (1910) was listed on the Indiana Register of Historic Places in 2015. Projects related to this house were the renovation and historic preservation tax credits.

Various Historic Preservation Projects

Columbus, Indiana

North Christian Church, designed by Eero Saarinen and completed in 1964, is a National Historic Landmark. The property also includes a major landscape by Dan Kiley. The substantially intact interior was by Alexander Girard with the Saarinen office.

Significant projects for the church have included:

• Writing and administering a Save America’s Treasures grant for $329,000 that supported restoration of the slate roof, gutters and lead-coated copper fascia.

• Architectural services for restoration of the failing slate roof, and stabilization of the lead-coated copper fascia.

• Architectural Services related to the Memorial Garden.

• Conceptual site planning and coordination with preservation officials, for a proposed interfaith community which was to use the North Christian campus. Planning was done with attention to the significance of the landscape.

• Working with students from the Indiana University, Bloomington Interiors Program, Louis Joyner performed archival research and prepared an inventory of the furnishings and specially-designed items for the building.

• Advice and facilitation of the decision-making process for repairs to the HVAC system

Façade Restoration

Columbus, Indiana

In 1964, the noted designer Alexander Girard developed a comprehensive design scheme for all of downtown Columbus. Only parts of the design were executed, and it remains on only a handful of buildings. Both buildings here were renovated by Girard in the 1960’s, and have had Girard color schemes since then. The interiors are now lost. Our work here was to restore the ornamental metalwork, and to specify the correct colors, selected based on slim original documentation and color analysis.

Lustron Houses were prefabricated houses developed in response to the housing crisis of the Post-War period.  Many types of prefabs were available then, but Lustrons are unique in being made of porcelain enamel steel, inside and out.  They had numerous other innovative features, including steel cabinetry and built-ins, radiant heat through a plenum system in the ceiling, and the outlandish combination dishwasher/washing machine.  They were built from 1948 to 1950 and can be found in much of the U.S.  Fewer than 3000 were built and about 1500 survive, though many of the survivors have been heavily altered. 

 The Evans Lustron House is a fine example of the two bedroom “Westchester Deluxe” model.  It was completed in 1949, the last of the six that were built in Columbus, and retains most of its original features. 

 This project included a light renovation of the interior and various exterior repairs.  It also included nominating the house to the National Register of Historic Places as the third to be included in the multiple property listing “A New Standard For Living: Lustron Houses in Indiana.”

Various Historic Preservation Projects

Columbus, Indiana

1993-2018

The Crump Theatre has, since 1889 gone through many transformations in use and form. It began as an opera house in an addition to a small commercial building. Subsequent renovations transformed it to a Vaudeville theatre, then to cinema. The current state, designed by Alden Meranda, dates from 1942.

Numerous initiatives over the years have demonstrated community interest in the building’s reuse. Despite this, and demonstrated viability of the project, the building remains unused

Significant projects for this building have included:

• Existing conditions documentation and measured drawings

• Historic Structure Report and Condition Assessment-1993

• Various planning studies, including options to renovate in current configuration and with major alterations, including estimates. 1993-2000

• Roof renovation and emergency structural repairs, with grant writing and administration. 1998

• Façade restoration, including Vitrolite, marquee, blade sign and other elements. With grant writing and administration. 2001

• Preparation of two successful grant applications of $50,000 each, along with necessary grant administration.

• Reuse feasibility study with economic modeling-2015

• Expanded reuse study with additional economic modeling-2018

Federal and State Tax Credits

Various Locations

Historic Preservation Tax Credit projects, for both Federal and State tax credit programs, have been done for commercial and residential projects. Projects for which documentation has been prepared include:

• C. 1860 worker’s cottage, Richmond IN

• 1937 Post Office Building, Franklin, IN

• C. 1885 Schwartzkopf Building, Columbus, IN

• 1910 Lambert-Noblitt House

Various Projects

From time to time, grant opportunities have arisen and we have written successful applications for our historic preservation projects, including:

• Application and Administration of Save America’s Treasures Grant-of $329,000 for roof restoration of North Christian Church by Eero Saarinen (1964, NHL)

• Application for Save America’s Treasures grant of $500,000 for tower restoration of First Christian Church by Eliel and Eero Saarinen (1942, NHL)

• Application and administration of a Historic Preservation Fund grant for $50,000, supporting façade restoration of the Crump Theatre (Alden Meranda and others 1889-1942)

• Application and administration of a Historic Preservation Fund grant for $50,000 for emergency structural repairs and roof replacement of the Crump Theatre.

Crump Building Facade Renovation

Columbus, Indiana

A significant 19th Century pressed tin facade was restored and painted in a palette inspired by the Alexander Girard downtown color scheme (no documentation of his plans for this building has been found). The long-ago altered storefront was given a light renovation. Interior work included design changes that improved public spaces and enhanced wayfinding in the building.

Renovation of Historic House

Columbus, Indiana

The Neoclassical Lambert-Noblitt House is a significant landmark in Columbus, and the most notable prewar house in the city. The project included assessment of existing conditions, measured drawings, planning and renovation construction documents.

In addition, we prepared nomination to the State Register of Historic Places, and historic preservation tax credit documentation.

Adaptive Reuse of Fire Station

Columbus, Indiana

Dating from 1962, this former fire station was designed local architects Taylor and Wood and is considered one of the firm’s more significant works.

The project involved restoration of the exterior and sensitive renovation of the interior. Exterior work included painting, window repair, partial reroofing, and other work. Adaptation of the interior work required construction of new offices, separate sleeping rooms and new bathrooms to allow for male and female EMT's, extensive mechanical and electrical work, painting and general repair.

Accessibility Upgrades and Courtyard Renovation

Columbus, Indiana

An historic Italianate house, dating from the 1870’s, required a sensitive intervention to provide an accessible entrance. The solution included the addition of a new ramp, replacement of the non-historic entrance stairs, and reworking of a garden wall and courtyard.

Feasibility Study

Columbus, Indiana

Built around 1910, this former power plant was the subject of reuse studies for multiple clients. Although the building was sound, site challenges, including proximity to a flood zone, limited its possible uses. Ultimately, the building was demolished.

Studies included preparation of measured drawings and building condition assessment, programming, preliminary design, and cost estimating.