Site Case Study #1

Photo: Troy Theis; courtesy of Bison Innovative Products

Project: Schmidt Artist Lofts
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Architect: BKV Group

The Project: It was no small feat for St. Paul, Minnesota-based developer Dominium to turn this 147-year-old brewery into a live–work–play community that revitalized its surroundings. After sitting vacant for a decade, many of the buildings in the area had fallen into disrepair when attempted remodels from various owners left them open to the relentless Midwestern winters.

The Challenge: The property spent two long years being brought back to life with the help of the local Heritage Preservation Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, and the National Park Service to honor the building’s iconic history.

The Solution: Targeted to young creatives, the building brings a renewed vivacity to the area and creates units with the artist’s needs in mind – wider doorways to move large pieces of artwork and enough square footage in the units for workspace. In order to create some usable outdoor space, scenic views of the Mississippi River are enjoyed from the communal rooftop deck. Using 2x2 smooth Ipê wood tiles and concrete pavers to provide an inviting, modern retreat to relax, the deck surface and adjustable pedestals allowed architects the design flexibility to create this unique outdoor space.

The Results: The project is a Multi-Family Executive 2015 Adaptive Reuse award winner.

Site Case Study #2

Photos: Anthony Carrino; courtesy of Bison Innovative Products

Project: Anthony Carrino’s Repurposed Firehouse Residence
Location: Jersey City, New Jersey
General Contractor & Designer: Anthony Carrino

The Project: Built in Jersey City in 1896, the firehouse was the original home to JCFD’s Hook & Ladder No. 3. In 2009, after serving the community for over 100 years, the firehouse was purchased and repurposed as the headquarters of Brunelleschi Construction, a company owned by father-son duo, Alfonso and Anthony Carrino.

The Challenge: Fast forward ten years and Anthony jumped on the opportunity to purchase the firehouse from his father and remodel it into a residential loft for his fiancée and recently adopted pup!

The Results: The entire renovation of the firehouse was filmed and created into a digital series, "The Firehouse Project." Episode 07 of the series, titled Roof Deck, aired on The Build on May 20, 2020, and features the installation of the Roof Deck System atop the renovated firehouse.

Plumbing Case Study #1

Photos: Anthony Carrino; courtesy of Geberit

Project: Chicago & Northwestern Railway Building–Converted to Hotel Use
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Architect: Hartshorne, Plunkard Architecture

The Project: Located in the epicenter of Chicago's financial district, directly across the street from Willis Tower, the historic building once known as the headquarters of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway is taking on a new life with the creation of the dual-branded Canopy by Hilton Chicago Central Loop (Canopy Chicago) and Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Central Loop (HGI Central Loop). Designated with Landmark status by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, the 117-year-old building now includes 350 guestrooms and suites between both properties, along with food and beverage outlets for each. Each hotel is designed to maintain its own distinct identity and offer unique amenities to serve guests. There is also an on-site fitness center, two unique event spaces, and an outdoor terrace space that is shared between guests at both hotels. The complex is also a prime destination for travelers, located in close proximity to many major corporate offices and co-working spaces such as Convene.

The Challenge: In the remodeling of any historic building, the solution to every design challenge must be not only financially feasible and efficient; it must also preserve the landmark character of the structure. The goal of everyone involved is to respect architectural history while integrating new designs and modern conveniences. Careful planning is essential to balance the requirements of a hotel franchise, building regulations, and the requirements (and potential benefits) of historic preservation. One common challenge when repurposing historic structures and landmarks is unforeseen obstacles arising from structural limitations. Such was the case during the design coordination of the guestroom bathroom spaces in the HGI Central Loop hotel located on the first six floors.

The original HGI Central Loop guestroom bathroom design called for floor-mounted toilets in the converted spaces. “During coordination with this gray block building structure, after the limitations on tolerances were determined by the structural engineer for floor penetrations, we needed to confirm that the bathroom design would work out,” explains Michael Souchet, Plumbing Engineer at R. Carrozza Plumbing. “With the floor-mount toilet layout, there are two bigger size cores required: the stack and vent behind. With this structure, the design plus the ductwork behind the wall, we found using BIM modeling that the structure tolerances on the lower floors would not be met using a floor-mounted toilet.” As with many such structures, the steel and clay tile construction limits penetrations and dictates corresponding tolerances. Planning efficient floor space for the bathrooms proved to be a significant challenge. In addition to the inadequate tolerances, a floor-mounted toilet would eat up too much of the limited space.

The Design Solution: The design team addressed the challenges of structural limitations and design integrity by dropping the original idea of installing floor-mounted toilets and switching instead to concealed tank and carrier systems–systems that were already being used on the floors above. After determining that the system for wall-mounted toilets specified in the Canopy Chicago upper floors would meet the required tolerances, Souchet suggested using the same system throughout the entire building, not just in the Canopy Chicago. “We were challenged. Because the layout confirmation already started on the upper floors, we determined the mechanical and technical feature of the in-wall system specified would be the perfect solution for the bottom floors too.”

The in-wall system opens up more space in the bathroom by enclosing the unsightly toilet tank and other plumbing hardware inside the building’s walls. The sound-insulated tank helps deaden the flushing noise, which can reach 75 dBA on a standard toilet, especially important in luxury hotels. The installation flexibility of the system was an additional asset in the bathroom design. The carrier system attaches easily to wall framing studs, and draining and venting are no different from a conventional floor-mounted toilet. The specified system includes adjustable fixture heights from 15 to 19 inches (381 to 483 mm), ADA compliance, and a frame that supports up to 800 pounds (400 kg).

The Results: Together, the design team found a way to effectively use the in-wall system throughout the entire building to create one-of-a-kind bathroom designs without compromising structural limitations.

Plumbing Case Study #2

Photos: Anthony Carrino; courtesy of Geberit

Project: Woolworth Building–Converted to Condominiums
Location: New York City
Project Management: CNY Group

The Project: The iconic, Neo-Gothic Woolworth building in New York was the tallest building in the world in 1913. It was owned by F.W. Woolworth, one of the original pioneers of the five-and-dime store. Originally designed by Cass Gilbert, the Woolworth building rises 60 stories over the southern tip of Manhattan. The top 30 stories, known as The Woolworth Tower Residences, have recently been converted into 33 one-of-a-kind condominiums.

The Challenge: When it came time to renovate, the bathrooms in the residences received a significant amount of design attention. The building’s owners, designers, and architects selected premium polished Italian marble for the interior walls and countertops; custom Italian millwork for the vanities; and top-of-the-line plumbing fixtures and fittings throughout. Joanna Stephens, Project Manager, CNY Group, needed to meet the requirements for a luxurious interior that also extended to the numerous bathrooms and powder rooms.

Extensive structural reinforcement as well as MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) replacement was essential, and the challenge was to do so without disturbing the existing lower-level tenants or jeopardizing the building’s landmark status. The Woolworth Building has been a National Historic Landmark since 1996 and a New York City Landmark since 1983. In New York City, it is illegal for the owner of a designated landmark to alter, reconstruct, or demolish any portion of the structure without first obtaining the approval of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, for which the residences received approval.

The Solution: “We installed in-wall toilet systems in all of the building’s 100 bathrooms, saving an average of nine inches of space per bathroom. Nine inches doesn’t seem like much until one considers that the cost per average square foot in the building can exceed $3,300,” Stephens says. “The system combines the luxury the owners wanted with the practicality that renovators, maintenance professionals, and homeowners demand.” The in-wall system opens up more space in the bathroom by enclosing the toilet tank and other plumbing hardware inside the building’s walls. The sound-insulated tank helps deaden the flushing noise, which can reach 75 dBA on a standard toilet, especially important in luxury apartment buildings. The combination of dual-flush plates and advanced flush valves will save thousands of gallons of water every year. Residents will also benefit from the system’s improved accessibility and extreme durability.

The Testing: Nothing about the renovation was left to chance. Prior to installation, CNY Group produced a full-scale mockup of a bathroom with the in-wall system to verify its strength. The specified carrier for the wall-hung toilets was specified to support up to 880 pounds, exceeding the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) A112.62 strength requirements. During a standard ASME test, a 500-pound (225 kg) weight is put on the edge of the fixture for 5 minutes and then tested to deflect not greater than 0.250 inches (6.3 mm). The standard establishes minimum performance requirements for framing-affixed supports for off-floor water closets with concealed tanks. The system was also assessed for maintenance requirements. Should maintenance ever become necessary, the system offers easy and quick tool-free access to all internal components, including the fill and flush valves, through the decorative actuator flush panel.

The Results: The in-wall tank and carrier system allowed a sleek design to be carried throughout the building without interrupting the full-height vertical marble wall panels. With a little help from the manufacturer, the designers achieved their vision, giving the historic building a contemporary feel inside.