Button Lofts Honored by AIA Rochester
Passero Associates, along with its client DHD Ventures, is honored to have Button Lofts recognized at the 2015 AIA Rochester Design Awards with a Merit Award, Urban Design, Interior & Historic Renovation. Congratulations to our architects Justin Vollenweider and Peter Wehner, and to the entire design team!
About Button Lofts:
Revitalizing Downtown Rochester and repurposing a historic structure for the use of a new generation, this renovated factory is a substantial contribution to the renewed life of the Flower City, while paying tribute to its heritage.
This “Z” shaped building originally served as a manufacturing facility when it was first constructed in 1904. Over its 111-year history, it has seen a variety of uses, with several major additions and renovations. The building was originally constructed as a five-story rectangle, oriented East-West, and at that time was sited parallel to the Erie Canal. The first addition was built between 1918 and 1924 and consisted of a five-story addition to the North, roughly doubling the building’s size. Some time after this initial addition, a two-story CMU loading dock was added to the South, creating a “Z” shaped building.
After being used for various manufacturing functions and as a warehouse, the building was abandoned and eventually decayed into a vacant eyesore, waiting to be reborn. With consideration for its historic significance and landmark status, the building has now been transformed into 36 apartments and three townhouses that embrace its heritage while adding a touch of modern appeal.
The existing windows were replaced with custom, energy-efficient windows, designed to match the historic aesthetics. The apartments and townhouses were designed to take full advantage of the natural lighting provided by the large new windows, through the use of “screen-walls” and “floating floor” concepts, reducing the need for artificial lighting. Existing brick work and mill construction were left exposed to enable understanding of the building’s history.
This transformation has brought new opportunities for residential living to a revitalized downtown neighborhood, while honoring the years of artisanship and creation that have made Rochester a thriving community.