2023 KPA Awards Projects
Each year the Kansas Preservation Alliance, Inc. recognizes exemplary efforts in historic preservation across the state of Kansas. The 2023 Awards for Excellence were presented at the Booth Hotel, in Independence, Kansas, where the following projects received awards.
715 Commercial Building (Lyon County) – Merit Award
Located within the Emporia Downtown Historic District, 715 Commercial Street is also listed as a contributing building on the National Register. This brick two-part commercial block is two bays wide with two large window openings containing non-historic fixed aluminum-framed windows defining the bays. Before the project started, a non-historic storefront comprised of brick infill around a high-set display window and a recessed entrance occupies the first-story facade.
The historic character-defining features include: the dark brick facing; the shaped parapet; the cast stone embellishment in the form of parapet coping, belt courses, and windowsills; and the soldier brick courses on the upper façade wall, over each window, and over the storefront.
The two-story building is home to a retail space on the first floor with the second floor serving a business occupancy. A non-historic first floor storefront was removed, and an appropriate storefront installed as part of the project. A new stair from the first floor was installed from Commercial Street to the 2nd floor with its own entry. New mechanical, plumbing and electrical were also within the scope of work to transform the back ½ of the first floor to a coffee shop. The front ½ of the space remains a retail space for art work. The historic features of the first floor were highlighted with the renovation, including the original tin ceiling and wood floors. Architectural services were provided by Ben Moore Studio. The building is now the proud home to Gravel City Roasters, and Trox Gallery and Gifts.
Baldwin Motor Company Building, Emporia (Lyon County) – Honor Award
Located within the Emporia Downtown Historic District, 714-718 Commercial Street is also listed as a contributing building on the National Register. This brick two-part commercial block occupies a triple-width lot and the building is six bays wide. Before the project, paired upper-story window openings define the bays, each of which contained brick infill. Four brick piers define three storefront bays in the first story. Before the project started, the south and center storefronts contain aluminum-framed storefront systems; and the north storefront features wood infill with a recessed door. Each storefront transom is covered with painted plywood. Aluminum visor awnings span the top of each storefront.
The historic character-defining features present include: the dark brown brick facing; the shaped parapet; the cast stone embellishment found throughout the façade as parapet coping, belt courses, windowsills, and decorative rectangular inset panels and pier capitals.
As part of the remodel project, the brick infill was removed and replica historic windows were installed on the 2nd floor. Two original windows remained and these were used to create the custom windows for the project. A non-historic first floor storefront was removed, and an appropriate storefront system was installed.
At the former car lift shaft, a new 2nd fire stair and elevator were installed. A total of ten apartments were installed on the 2nd floor of the building. New mechanical, plumbing, electrical and sprinkler systems were also installed within the scope of work. The existing stairs and 2nd floor corridor were restored including the original terrazzo flooring.
Bonner Springs Government Services Center, Bonner Springs (Wyandotte County) – Medallion Award
The Bonner Springs Government Services Center (GSC) unites the city’s operational services into one complex that blends historic architecture with modern amenities. The project involves a full city block in downtown Bonner Springs and includes two buildings – one old and one new. The project team transformed the historic 1918 school building, listed on both the Register of Historic Kansas Places and the National Register of Historic Places, into the Bonner Springs City Hall and constructed a new police facility adjacent to the historic building.
Located in downtown Bonner Springs, Kansas, the city originally acquired the school building in the 1980s with plans to renovate it for office space. The building remained vacant, however, and in 2009, became occupied by the 3rd Street Asylum haunted house. Over the years, residents advocated for the building’s revival as a key part of the downtown character. A citizen group was instrumental in obtaining the state and national historic register listings and mothballing the building. After a citizen survey revealed a high level of support for city infrastructure and buildings, the 1918 school building became part of the city’s strategic plan.
Thirty years of sitting vacant and unconditioned combined with the occupancy of the building by the haunted house greatly compromised the historic features and finishes, resulting in an intensive effort in their restoration. Craftsmen repaired and replaced the three-coat plasterwork; restored the original concrete floors and base; restored original features such as the multi-paneled wood doors, classroom bookcases, and running trim; and uncovered and restored the original auditorium proscenium for the backdrop of the new city council dais. New mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection infrastructure utilized original horizontal and vertical chases so as not to destroy the historic spaces.
The addition to the rear façade of the 1918 building houses a new elevator, staircase, and building entrance that is visually connected to the new police facility across a new public plaza. The design of the addition and police facility complements the historic building, while remaining distinctly contemporary. Native Kansas limestone matching the historic limestone of the former school building clads the new addition and police facility but with a honed finish in lieu of the rough-cut finish of the historic building. The base of the addition matches the datum line of the base of the historic building.
The citizens of Bonner Springs have taken great pride in filling the hallowed hallways and display niches (repurposed from the areas formerly housing students’ lockers) of the renovated school building with historic photographs and artifacts. The fully constructed complex was completed in 2021 and the building was dedicated on August 27, 2021.
Fort Scott Tribune - Monitor Building, Fort Scott (Bourbon County) – Merit Award
The Tribune-Monitor Building is a contributing property located in the National Register Fort Scott Downtown Historic District, which is in the central business district of Fort Scott, Kansas and the county seat of Bourbon County. The District comprises nine and one-half blocks incorporating approximately eighty-eight buildings with fifty-eight of those being contributing historic structures.
On March 31, 1917, the property that the Tribune-Monitor building would be located on was sold to George Watson Marble. A native to Fort Scott, Marble was born on October 9, 1871. In 1885, at the age of 15, Marble began working at the Fort Scott Tribune sweeping floors and cleaning the presses. He then advanced to a “printer’s devil” and served as an apprentice at the newspaper. In 1891, Marble was noted as attending business college in Chicago. In the 1896 Fort Scott City Directory, Marble is listed as “City Editor” of the Fort Scott Tribune and it is at that time he acquired a small-interested in Ownership of the business with George W. Martin. In 1902, Marble purchased full ownership of the Fort Scott Tribune and became publisher and president of the company. In 1925, the Tribune-Monitor Building was erected.
The new construction was fabricated specifically to house the Tribune-Monitor publication and distribution equipment and offices for the running of the newspaper. The Tribune-Monitor had presses in the basement of the eastern part of the building with business offices on the first floor and news-writing and layout areas, conference room, and executive offices on the second floor. The building has been under-utilized and partially vacant for more than five years.
Newell-Johnson-Searle Outbuilding, Oskaloosa (Jefferson County) – Honor Award
In 1856, this limestone cabin, known as the Newell-Johnson-Searle Outbuilding, was built and occupied by Jesse Newell and his family in what is now known as Oskaloosa, Kansas. Newell and his brother-in-law Joseph Fitsimmons were co-founders of Oskaloosa. Newell was a free stater from Iowa who came to the territory in 1855 after the Kansas Territory was opened for settlement with Jefferson County among the 33 original counties established by the Territorial Legislature. Newell bought 113 acres consisting of a farm and a cabin from Dr. James Noble, a Missourian, and returned with his wife and family in 1856. This arrival put him in the harshest year of Bleeding Kansas, when pro-slavers and free staters clashed over the entry of Kansas into the Union as a slave or free state. Dr. Noble’s original cabin was reportedly burned by pro-slavery forces in September of 1856 and Newell built the current limestone cabin in order to have shelter for his family prior to winter. Period documents reveal Newell, and his sons were involved in the Underground Railroad and his property was a rendezvous spot for Jayhawkers. Because of this significance to the history of Oskaloosa and the association with the Free State cause, a separate corporation, Free State Hill, Inc. was created to research and plan for restoration of the property which needed many repairs. Concurrently, the property was nominated and received acceptance in the National Register of Historic Places in 2017 with the state adding the property to its register afterward.
Free State Hill later was awarded a 2021 Heritage Trust Fund grant from the State Historic Preservation Office for the restoration of the cabin. WoodWorks Restoration was hired as General Contractor to assist in planning, bid document development for the repair work, and to perform construction administration utilizing the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation to guide the work. The repair work included roof replacement, masonry repointing, window and door restoration, electrical work, and floor and trim repairs.
WoodWorks Restoration was fervent to ensure the least degree of intervention was utilized during the preservation and repair of the cabin. Unfortunately, some materials required replacement. In speaking with those bidding for the work, WoodWorks Restoration was clear in stating all materials would be period-specific and compatible with materials being replaced. Fortunately, no structural alterations or additions were included in the work.
The purpose of the cabin rehabilitation was to preserve it in the original state as a pre-Civil War era cabin. Consistent with this purpose nothing was removed or altered to change the character of the cabin and the cabin was restored as an 1856 cabin. Historic windows and the door were restored, and period-specific storm windows and doors were obtained to add protection. The original failed composition roof required placement as did some rafters and plates. Period specific wood shingles were installed. Repointing occurred on all the stone and brickwork. Old mortar was removed by hand with Kansas State Historic Preservation Office, Type O mortar as the replacement. This mortar is heavy in lime and better resembles the homemade, breathing mortar that held the cabin together for over 160 years.
WoodWorks Restoration assisted with contract negotiation, as well as performing site visits, and performing the window and door restoration. Stewart Roofing was hired to remove the failed composition roof, replace rafters and plates, and install a period wood roof. GKW Group was hired to repoint all the stone and brickwork with the prescribed mortar. Hawk Electric added a new service of lights and outlets. All three worked closely with the GC and Free State Hill to produce an accurate restoration of the cabin’s original construction.
Newmark's Building, Lawrence (Douglas County) – Merit Award
The historic character of the Newmark Building was not only retained, and preserved but improved. Hernly Associates, Inc performed Architectural services associated with the project.
The building currently houses retail on the first level and residential apartments on the second level. Prior to an electrical fire in October 2019, an axe-throwing business was in this location, with minimal access to the basement or second floor. It now has basement storage, an independent bookstore on the first floor (Publisher’s Weekly 2022 Bookstore of the Year) and two apartments on the second floor.
A primary focus of the renovation was to restore the original second floor area to its original function of residential occupancy. Structural, code and safety improvements were made to the entire building, false framed ceilings were removed. Tin ceilings were salvaged and re-installed; brick and mortar repairs were also made.
The storefront level has a recessed centered entry flanked by large display windows with masonry bulkheads. The second story has a large central window panel with a band of five fixed sash windows. Above the windows is a stone plaque carved with “1865 NEWMARK’s 1912”. Additionally, significant framing issues were repaired by sistering with existing wood framing, and windows were restored to their original configuration which inturn allows for roof access and egress for the residential units.
St. Luke AME Church, Lawrence (Douglas County) – Honorable Mention Award
The Rehabilitation of Stained Glass and Masonry at St. Luke African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church allowed for the historic character of the property to be retained and preserved through the rehabilitation of the building’s entire brick façade and stone accents, the two large stained-glass windows, and two small stained-glass windows.
The stone accents, including the keystones, spring stones, and window sills were painted white, which was not original to the building; during the rehabilitation, the paint was removed using the gentlest means possible. Additionally, the stained-glass windows were temporarily removed from the building, and each pane was cleaned and assessed for damage. A number of stained-glass panes were broken or missing; at these locations, a new piece of glass was created to match the old in design, color, and texture in accordance with standard six.
Overall, through the Rehabilitation of Stained Glass and Masonry at St. Luke AME Church, the building’s most distinctive characteristics were repaired and preserved so the building can stand tall for future generations.
The original scope of the project included masonry rehabilitation on the north and west gabled ends and rehabilitation of the north and west stained-glass windows. Due to fundraising efforts and additional grant funds, the scope of the project expanded to include the rest of the exterior brick masonry rehabilitation and the rehabilitation of the two towers' windows and louvers.
Funding sources for the project included: HTF Grant Funds, DCHCC Grants, LPA Fundraising, Sebelius GoFundMe, Friends of Sacred Structures, and Tax Credit Funds.
White-Cowley Building, Council Grove (Morris County) – Honorable Mention Award
Located within the Council Grove Downtown Historic District, 204 W Main Street is also listed as a contributing building on the National Register. The two-story building has a small retail space on the first floor and the second floor was converted into two apartments with the design guidance of Ben Moore Studio. To ensure code compliance with the change of occupancy, fire ratings on doors and walls needed to be updated, while maintaining the historic character. A non-historic first floor storefront was removed, and an appropriate storefront installed. Replacement windows on the 2nd floor were removed and replica historic windows were installed on the 2nd floor. A new exterior stair was also added to ensure all exiting needs were met. Mechanical plumbing and electrical were also within the scope of work to transform the existing space into a functioning apartment. The historic features of the second floor were highlighted with the renovation, including the original doors and trim work on both the doors and windows. The project meets the Secretary of Interior Standards for Rehabilitation and is a Federal and State Historic Tax Credit Project.