Local Architecture Firm Lorenz Williams Receives Ohio Historic Preservation Award for McCormick Building

The Ohio Historic Preservation Office held their annual awards ceremony on October 17, 2009—an event that resulted in high honors for a local architecture firm’s contribution to outstanding historic preservation efforts.

Lorenz Williams, in cooperation with CityWide Development Corporation, was awarded the Preservation Merit Award for their work on the McCormick Building. This distinction is reserved for projects that preserve Ohio’s prehistory, history, architecture, or culture. Eligible activities include, restoring, rehabilitating, or otherwise preserving an important building or site, longtime stewardship of a property, promoting protective legislation, funding preservation projects, offering leadership, support, or service, and furthering preservation at the local, regional, or state level.

The 1913 McCormick Building, originally constructed as a plumbing supply business, is located at 434 East First Street and is owned by CityWide Development. Although listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, the dilapidated building faced demolition in 2004 if a suitable use could not be identified.

Lorenz Williams—noted for projects in Dayton such as renovating the Victoria Theatre, the Old Post Office, and the Arcade—saw an opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to downtown Dayton and the continuing development of the Webster Station area. “Lorenz Williams has a history of influencing public urban spaces,” explains Bear Monita, a partner with the firm. “We found the combination of the building’s historic character and its proximity to Fifth Third Field and the public markets very appealing and energizing.”

The 4‐story, 30,000‐square‐foot mixed use space consists of approximately 15,000 square feet for Lorenz Williams’ office space, and 10 loft‐style apartments in the remaining 15,000 square feet. The exterior of the building was restored to its original appearance, including the windows. Inside, major renovations were completed to create a modern interior design, while still maintaining the historic feel. Elements include a grand staircase with odd angles, modulated by landings and positioned walls.

The loft‐style apartments range in size from 500 to 1700 square feet and include one studio, 8 two bedroom units and one three bedroom unit. Three of the units are townhouse‐style, with spiral staircases. Many of the units have great views into the Dayton Dragon’s Ballpark, and the Riverscape Fountains. All units have exposed brick and open ceilings, allowing you to see the pipes and ductwork. Rents range from $475 to $1450. For rental information, please call 937‐832‐0307 or 1‐866‐687‐LOFT.

Lorenz Williams served as the project architect and CityWide Development assisted with financing and managing the building’s overall renovation. “The transformation that Lorenz Williams has made at the McCormick Building is truly remarkable and certainly deserving of the Preservation Merit Award,” comments Steve Budd, CityWide Development President. “A lot of hard work and reinvestment has gone into the area surrounding Fifth Third Field. Having Lorenz Williams as the anchor tenant of this beautiful building is really an asset for downtown Dayton.”

The $4 million project, completed in September 2005, was made possible with funding and financing assistance from CityWide Development Corporation, Fifth Third Bank and the Fifth Third Community Development Corporation. In addition, financial resources available through the National Park Services’ Historic Tax Credit Program were also leveraged. For more information, contact Nicole Steele, Project Manager for CityWide Development at (937) 853‐2559 or by email at nsteele@citywidedev.com.

About Lorenz Williams
Established in 1927, Lorenz Williams has been a notable contributor to Dayton’s architecture. The architecture, interior design and engineering firm is now located in the McCormick Building in downtown Dayton’s Webster Station area, near Fifth Third Field. Major local projects include the designs of NCR World Headquarters, the Kettering Tower, and the Schuster Heart Hospital at Kettering Medical Center. Historical preservations projects include the McCormick Building, the Victoria Theatre, and the Old Post Office. For more information on Lorenz Williams, call (937) 223‐6500 or visit www.lorenzwilliams.com.

About CityWide Development Corporation
CityWide Development Corporation is a private, nonprofit economic development firm located in Dayton, Ohio offering a full range of services, including financing for economic development, housing activities, venture capital, site location, financial analysis, and federal and state financial assistance. Today, the mission of CityWide is to provide leadership in the creation and implementation of strategies addressing the city’s need for economic growth and viable, attractive neighborhoods. CityWide Development is located at 8 N. Main Street, Dayton, Ohio, 45402. For more information on CityWide’s business financing and loan programs and to learn more about the organization, visit www.citywidedev.com.