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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Ely Walker Lofts Debut on Washington Avenue
Clayco transforms historically registered warehouse |
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ST. LOUIS, October 19, 2007 – After sitting vacant for decades, the historically registered Ely & Walker Dry Goods warehouse at 1520 Washington Ave. in St. Louis has re-emerged as the sophisticated Ely Walker Lofts. Built in 1917, the 372,300-square-foot masonry building was designed by world-renowned architects Eames & Young. Chicago-based Orchard Development Group is the developer for the building’s conversion to a 174-unit condo building. Clayco and architect Forum Studio Inc. worked with Orchard to develop a plan that restored the building’s architectural integrity while also infusing modern residential design and convenience. For example, 97,200 square feet of brick and terra cotta exterior was cleaned and tuck pointed to bring out the building’s original beauty, while 24 custom-designed balconies were added as an extra amenity. “The most spectacular feature of the Ely Walker Lofts is a six-story clerestory atrium that was added at the center of the building to increase natural light for interior units,” said Bob Fritz, Clayco’s project executive. “The atrium also was the most challenging aspect of the project, but the end result made it well worth the effort.” There is retail space on the first floor of the building, so the atrium begins at the second level and extends through the roof of the building, culminating in two skylights separated by the central elevator shaft. In order to create the atrium, Clayco removed a 160-by-30-foot section from the roof down through the second floor. Clayco preserved as much of the original wood floors from these sections as possible to cover the freight elevator shaft, which was located in prime unit space along the perimeter of the building. Half of the retail space has been taken by English Living and The London Tea Room. The project further involved tearing out a portion of the first floor to build an underground garage with space for 90 cars. Residents with premium condos have dedicated parking spaces in the garage, while others enter from the street level through the retail space and use a private code to access the residential elevators. Even the roof is being put to use, with a fitness center, entertainment room and rooftop deck. To maintain Ely Walker Lofts’ listing on the National Register of Historic Places, Forum and Clayco worked closely with the National Park Service and the city of St. Louis to ensure the design and subsequent construction met requirements to maintain the building’s historic status. Whenever possible, the team reused existing materials, even refurbishing the existing wood windows. Clayco began design-build in March 2006 and completed the project in September 2007. For more information on purchasing a home site at Ely Walker Lofts, visit www.elywalkerlofts.com or call 314/436-7400. The sales office is located at 409 N. 15th St. and is open daily until 6 p.m. Clayco’s project team included Bob Fritz, project executive; Doug Fry and Arnez Stevenson, project superintendents; Amy Whitten, mission control; Debbie Thomas, project accountant; and Kris Schaefer, construction administrator. Forum’s team included Joe Schneiders and Katie Spiguzza. Joining Clayco and Forum on the project were KPFF Consulting Engineers, structural engineer; Bell Electrical Contractors, electrical design-build contractor; SystemAire Inc., mechanical design-build contractor; Ahern Fire Protection, fire protection design-build contractor; and Plumbing Planning, plumbing design-build contractor. Orchard Development Group Inc. is an established developer of single and multifamily residences in urban and suburban communities nationwide. The company was founded in 1996 by Jay Case and his partner, John Vanker, to develop infill-for-sale housing on Chicago’s North Side. Starting with a 15-unit project in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, the company has since expanded into new markets and furthered its mission to identify infill opportunities in evolving markets, including St. Louis, Denver and Las Vegas. For more information, visit www.orcharddevelopmentgroup.com. Clayco is a full-service real estate development, design and construction firm with annual revenues of $640 million, specializing in “the art and science of building.” With offices in St. Louis, Chicago and Detroit, Clayco provides design-build project delivery on a nationwide basis for the corporate, industrial, institutional and residential markets. For more information, visit www.claycorp.com. -30-
Editor’s Notes: 2199 Innerbelt Business Center Drive, St. Louis, Mo. (63114).
#1 TransAm Plaza Drive, Suite 400, Oakbrook
Terrace, Ill. (60181). |
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