A building’s ability to endure the test of time is virtually unlimited. It is often interesting to look at the life of a building and note how many different occupants and uses it may have over its life span. This is the certainly the case for the building that is home to RossTarrant Architects.
Having outgrown its former offices on Main Street in downtown Lexington, RossTarrant Architects (RTA) began the search for a new space that would afford the firm some growing room but would still offer the prominence of a downtown location. In the Spring of 2006, RTA found exactly what it was looking for at the corner of Old Lafayette Avenue and East Main Street.
At the time the firm acquired the building, it had been previously owned by the National College of Business (formerly the Kentucky Business College), which had purchased the building in 1972. Some additional research uncovered the rest of the building’s history.
The building had been primarily occupied by one other tenant prior to the National College of Business. In 1956, JW Davis and CB McEachin purchased the property for a specific venture—they sought to create a facility for IBM. The company had just chosen Lexington as the location for its new typewriter manufacturing facility. IBM needed a building that could serve as a showroom for its typewriter division. JW Davis and CB McEachin agreed to build the facility and lease it to IBM. Through that arrangement, IBM occupied the building from 1957 until 1972.
Though some people may not consider the building historic, as a building over 50 years old and an example of mid-century modern architecture, it is certainly a valuable structure. Its contribution to the history of Lexington is notable, considering the prominent role that IBM played in the development of the city.
There are several reasons the building was well suited to be developed to a new use. The building’s steel frame structure provided the flexibility necessary to adapt the space to the needs of an architectural firm, and the building’s expanses of exterior glass were ideally suited to the firm’s goal to create a space that incorporated natural light and sustainable design concepts. Excited by the opportunity to breathe new life into an old building, the firm began a massive renovation—and the building began the next chapter of its life.Reusing an existing building is the most basic way possible to conserve natural resources and the ultimate example of sustainability. As staunch advocates of sustainable design and environmental responsibility, we knew right away that we would want to design our new office space under the guideline of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
The LEED rating system (a nationally recognized benchmark for green design) served as a guide as we worked to incorporate a wide range of environmentally responsible features in the renovation. Water conservation features like low-flow and automatic faucets and water saving toilets were installed. A unique groundwater collection system was designed to minimize the use of municipal water for irrigation and limit our burden on the city storm sewer system.All of the building’s systems and materials were carefully selected to ensure good indoor air quality. Sensors that detect carbon dioxide levels signal the HVAC system to introduce additional fresh air when CO2 levels get too high. Products were carefully selected—such as paints, adhesives, and caulks—to limit or eliminate the volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) that would off-gas into the atmosphere.
Particular attention was paid to source of the materials used in the renovation. Many existing materials in the building were reused or donated to others, such as Habitat for Humanity. New wood doors were fabricated of wood from FSC-certified forests. When new materials were required, such as steel studs, carpet, and ceiling tile, materials fabricated with recycled content were selected. All construction waste was carefully managed and sorted to recycle as much as possible and divert waste from landfills.
And, of course, energy efficiency was a major focus. The HVAC system and appliances were all chosen for their energy efficiency. Highly efficient lighting fixtures kick on to supplement the abundant natural daylighting only when daylight sensors indicate they are needed. Occupancy sensors make sure lights are turned off in any spaces that are not in use. All of the building’s hot water is heated by two solar panels.
When the firm opened its doors in May 2007, we were immensely pleased with the results. The bright, comfortable, attractive space instantly reaffirmed our commitment to environmentally sustainable design. Imagine our delight when the building earned the ENERGY STAR from the US Department of Energy for performing in the top 25 percent of similar buildings in the United States for energy efficiency!
It’s definitely rewarding to know that others recognize our efforts. But most of all, it is tremendously satisfying to know we’ve transformed an underappreciated building into an environment that is sustainable and offers extraordinary value to the community. As a result, Lexington now has an essentially new building with an exciting history that will undoubtedly enjoy a long, useful life for many years to come.
