The project entailed adaptive reuse, restoration, rehabilitation, and conversion of the ca. 1880 fire barn for residential use. Rough interior spaces, structural modifications, the major circulation systems, hose-drying tower, and exterior shell were completed with the intent of implementing the residential program into the interiors. Major new spaces were created, including the insertion of an additional floor level, exterior deck, an addition with large openings to capture views, and the rebuilding of a pre-existing hose-drying tower. Parking for this tight urban site was accommodated through reuse of the space originally housing the horse-drawn fire apparatus. The historic oriole window on the street elevation served as a point of departure for the box-like window intervention behind the rebuilt tower. The window box is rotated independent of the orthogonal structure, providing for visual corridors to the harbor and design opportunities for the interior.
Fire Barn
November 5th, 2009Squash Courts at Brown University
November 5th, 2009The project involved the conversion of eight squash courts into six International Regulation courts. Since the courts were within the larger Smith Swim Center, it was necessary to isolate the courts from the pool area to provide constant humidity and temperature throughout the year.
The cell-like cinder block courts and an upper walkway were demolished to create an open, loft-like space framed by steel tubular columns. A small viewing lounge was carved out of the remaining space, with a glass common wall looking into one of the courts. Glass doors provide a physical separation while visually connecting the two activities of swimming and squash. The glass-lined corridor provides a new pathway to and from the natatorium while celebrating the many diverse activities under one roof.
Central Congregational Church
November 3rd, 2009Central Congregational Church, located on Angell Street in Providence, Rhode Island, suffered from a plethora of exterior problems, some of which were not originally apparent to the members of
the congregation. This list included deteriorated masonry joints, spalling and mismatched brickwork, cracked and chipped terra-cotta, and efflorescence on masonry surfaces indicating moisture penetration.
After a thorough study conducted by LLB Architects with an assembled team of industry professionals, a plan of thorough and
meticulous restoration was formed and quickly begun. Photo-documentation served to both gain additional information on the project and efficiently communicate directions between several
consultants. To better facilitate the church, a phased five-year schedule for projected work was established, detailing major goals and milestones.
Tasks for the restoration project include replacement of masonry around the main entrance, installation of new flashing, and careful documenting, cutting, recasting, and replacing of terra-cotta elements.
St. Paul Church
November 2nd, 2009The original St. Paul Church of Edgewood, was dedicated on October 27, 1907, and was a fairer looking rendition of what is now “Monsignor Canning Hall”, currently the utility building for parish affairs. Around the time of dedication a census recorded 770 people in the parish. Almost twenty-one years later, on October 21, 1928, the cornerstone for the new Church was laid under supervision of architecture firm Ambrose Murphy; Samuel Morino, a convert from Judaism, its principle architect. The new church was dedicated on November 16, 1930.
The modified Gothic church suffered from a deterioration of the interior. As with most water penetration cases, the water entered through the perimeter shell. LLB was hired to perform a Restoration Survey. Based upon site observations, probing, and discussions among members of the survey team, reports and estimate information was generated to form the basis for this exterior shell building survey.
As the survey progressed, exterior concerns such as the discovery of temporary cable-trussed tower buttress capstones and mortar dislodging from buttresses and falling on entry walks, reinforced the urgent need for exterior shell analysis and repairs. LLB guided these repairs, and St. Paul Church of Edgewood once again stands out as a community icon.
Moses Brown School Facilities Audit
October 15th, 2009Moses Brown School, founded in 1784, is an independent, college preparatory school, enrolling students from nursery through grade 12. LLB Architects was retained by the School to complete a Campus Facilities Audit for purposes of campus budget projection and project planning. The survey included documentation of 22 buildings and 27 site entities ranging from historic to modern. The resulting analysis of deficiencies and general status was a distillation of observations made by a team comprised of multiple disciplines: architectural, structural, mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, kitchen, landscape, and civil, with a separate cost consultant engaged to assign values to each observation.
In efforts to streamline data entry and comprehension, LLB developed an innovative electronic database to organize observations by building elements, utilizing the UNIFORMAT classification method, the same method by which R.S. Means organizes their cost data. The database also applies standard use codes for all facility spaces, and qualitative categorization of observations rate items by condition and priority of actioin. This structure allowed observations and recommendations to be as variable and detailed as conditions warranted while retaining their future usefulness for the School.
The final product included a sortable database, hardcopy summary report, and drawing index of all buildings and elements on campus. These easily navigated tools not only fulfilled the requirements of the audit, they inherently contained structured information that the school had not anticipated but which can be utilized for various purposes including tracking of space use, room keying, and numbering. The data collected in this audit can continue to provide viable budget and planning information to the school as it changes and grows long into the future.
Community Preparatory School Feasibility Studies
October 15th, 2009LLB Architects has been working with the Community Preparatory School (CPS) in Providence since 2002. The Community Preparatory is an independent middle school serving grades 3 through 8. CPS challenges minority and low-income children of Rhode Island to succeed in college-preparatory high-school programs and to become community leaders. About 97% of CPS graduates move onto college-preparatory high school programs.
Over the years we have completed numerous feasibility studies to expand the land-locked urban school, both at their current location with the purchase and closing of Somerset Street, as well as at other sites in South and West Providence. In addition to master planning, over the years we have assisted with building projects such as library and computer lab renovations, fire code upgrades, boiler plant replacement, and classroom renovations to make room for the first class of kindergartners of the Southside Elementary Charter School.
In 2015, LLB completed a conceptual study for an addition and renovation of the Community Preparatory School’s main building in Providence. Funded as part of a $14,000,000 capital campaign, the project includes the addition of a new office wing providing much needed administrative space for the School and a new entry giving the campus a notable arrival point.
Past Sacred Spaces Projects
August 13th, 2000We have completed dozens of ecclesiastical projects, ranging from exterior masonry restorations, to interior restorations and renovations, to feasibility studies, and more. We value our relationship with our religious-affiliated clients and together we work to improve our communities one project at a time. The following is a selected list of religious space projects for the Diocese of Providence and others:
Renovation
Exterior Masonry Restoration
Exterior Masonry Restoration
Lighting Renovation
School Cafeteria
New Construction
Exterior Masonry Restoration
Addition and Renovation
Addition and Renovation
Envelope Restoration
Interior Restoration/Renovation
Parish Center, New Construction
Renovations and Addition
Restoration and Renovation
Exterior and Interior Renovations and Rectory Renovation
Expansion Study Master Plan
Addition and Renovation
Exterior Masonry Restoration
Exterior Masonry Restoration
Interior Restorations
Interior Renovation
Master Planning
Master Planning
Exterior Masonry Restoration
Exterior Masonry Restoration
Exterior Masonry Restoration
Conversion of Basement to Community Center
Exterior Envelope Restoration
Exterior Envelope Restoration
Interior and Exterior Addition and Renovation
New Roof
Emergency Repairs and Renovation
Sanctuary Improvements
New Construction
Housing Study for Johnson & Wales University
August 13th, 2000LLB Architects teamed up with the Corvias Campus Living Group to create a design for Johnson and Wales University’s parcels of the new LINK section of Providence. The goals of LINK are to weave the sections of Providence that were once divided by a highway back together. Using the same approach as with Hillside Hall, gathering community input/needs and connecting the design with the campus and it’s surrounding city, to allow for a seamless integration. This design followed a housing study, in which Johnson and Wales existing conditions were determined and the needs helped dictate the form of the design.
