The Roosevelt High School was built in 1888 in Clinton Iowa. It had been patinaed with over 120 of constant use when the local school district deemed it too expensive to use and maintain.
The charge of the design team was the insertion of 16 apartments within a school containing about 14,000-square feet and 7 classrooms and a large gathering area space while maintaining the integrity of the existing walls and spaces. (Each unit containing a washer/dryer, individual HVAC units, bath and kitchen fans and no penetrations through the historic brick envelope.) The process utilized ALL historic walls and left the main hall unchanged. The second floor utilized units with mezzanine level bedrooms to squeeze in all of the possible living area in while respecting the beautiful two-story window units. A special unit was designed and constructed to use the space within the corner turret resulting in a one of a kind three story living experience for someone who is in need of an affordable housing solution!
The success of the building is measured in what is untouched, the architecture of the repurposing is to be unseen. The changes in fire exiting, improvements for accessibility and inclusion of fire protection are all accomplished in a demure manner. It is not a design product of ego, but rather restraint. The efforts and results are extensively creative, but mostly unseen.
Material Used :
1. RepointingMortar, Brick: US Heritage Group – NHL3.5
2. RepointingMortar, Stone: Niagara – PHL 5.0
3. Roofing, Shingles: CertainTeed – Grand Manor Shingles
4. Roofing, Membrane: Duro-Last PVC Membrane
5. Exterior Doors, Wood: Lemieux Doors
6. Interior Doors: Jeld-Wen – ProCoreMolded Doors
7. Clad Wood Windows: Marvin Windows and Doors
8. Sheet Vinyl: Mannington – Primus
9. Wall Base: Johnsonite
10. Carpet: Shaw
11. Paint: Sherwin-Williams
12. Appliances: GE
13. Casework: Advanta Cabinets
14. Countertops, Plastic Laminate: Wilsonart
15. Countertops, Solid Surface: Corian
16. Wheelchair Lift: Savaria
