Perspectus Architecture Wins Three Awards at 2019 AIA Akron Design Awards

September 24, 2019 // Recognition, Healthcare, Historic

Perspectus Architecture was honored with three awards at the AIA Akron Design Awards held on September 12th at the Trailhead at Cascade Lofts. Two of our projects won awards in the following categories:

Honor Award: Summa Health – West Tower (Designed in collaboration with Hasenstab Architects)

Merit Award: The Woda Group – 43 Town Square (Lima Trust Company Building)

People’s Choice Award: Summa Health – West Tower

                                                               

The historic 1926 First National Bank and Lima Trust building, renamed as 43 Town Square, is located at the corner of West Market Street and North Main Street at 43 Town Square in Lima, Ohio. The 102,000-square-foot building was previously used as a bank, retail space, and offices, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Designed by Weary & Alford of Chillicothe, Illinois, the building is characterized by its Commercial Style elements and features a limestone façade with limestone details typical of the Renaissance Revival.

The goal was to convert the magnificent 12-story building into mixed-income family housing and commercial retail space.

Rehabilitation inside the building included maintenance and conservation of many historic design features including: plaster walls and ceilings; wood doors and trim; stone walls, wainscoting, and flooring; original leaded-glass windows; and numerous ornamental stairs and railings.

                                                               

The grand lobby especially, retained many original attributes including the bronze bank teller windows and marble partitions; decorative and coffered plaster ceiling; wrought iron chandeliers; and a magnificent two-story stained-glass window.

                                                                                 

 

In addition to the extensive rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the interior, the exterior of the building was also restored. Exterior work included:
- Introduction of a covered pedestrian walkway connecting to the adjacent parking garage.
- Isolated masonry repairs including repointing, replacement of cracked brick, and stone patching.
- Full restoration of cast iron and bronze windows.