Architects to rehab downtown structures for new corporate homes

by Eric Olson

SBJ Reporter

eolson@sbj.net

Architect Geoffrey Butler knows firsthand the impact a single project can have on downtown redevelopment. His company designed what became Springfield Brewing Company, which has played a key role in the revival of the area around it.

"That was kind of blazing new territory out on the west side of Campbell. And that has worked out quite well to help stimulate development," Butler said.

Butler envisions the same kind of progress when Butler, Rosenbury & Partners breathes new life into the former Universal Paint building at 319 N. Main this year.

"We're hoping that this development out here on Main Street will stimulate development of that (Jordan Valley Park West) Meadows area," Butler added. "Ultimately, we envision that as a pretty nice park area, according to the overall master plan of Jordan Valley. We'll kind of be sitting right in the middle of it."

The building's owner, downtown redeveloper Scott Tillman, and members of Butler, Rosenbury & Partners, formed Main Street LLC to redevelop the vacant structure in partnership. The more than $3 million historic renovation is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year. Butler, Rosenbury & Partners will lease two floors of the three-story structure from Main Street LLC. Retail, restaurant or office tenants are desired for the ground floor, Butler said.

"It kind of kicks off the West Meadows, even though it's private," said Vern Morgan, center city coordinator. "Jordan Valley Park is a mixed-use place. It's always been planned to have private redevelopment in the appropriate buildings inside the park."

City of Springfield officials are lending their resources to jumpstart the project. The city plans to loan Main Street LLC about $2.5 million from an $8,085,000 Housing and Urban Development loan the city secured in November. The remaining HUD monies are earmarked for redevelopment of the former MFA Mill on Boonville, for which there are no immediate plans.

Butler, Rosenbury & Partners' move will be Southwest Missouri State University's loss. The firm leases 12,800 square feet on two floors at the Kenneth E. Meyer Alumni Center, 300 S. Jefferson, which is owned by SMSU Foundation. Its lease expires early next year, Butler said.

SMSU Foundation Executive Director Greg Onstot said first preference is finding another corporate tenant to generate revenue. About 54 percent of the Alumni Center's 62,500 square feet is leased to outside tenants, such as McDonald & Associates law firm, Gaskin Hill Norcross Architects/Engineers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Interior Planning Consultants, Harrington Cortelyou, Olive & Harkins Creative Group, Rotary Club of Springfield and some individual offices, according to Donna Hagar, building manager.

University uses include SMSU Foundation, alumni relations, continuing education, photo services, university relations, Learning Diagnostic Clinic and the university's nationwide phone campaign.

Butler, Rosenbury & Partners has been there 14 years.

"We're really going to miss them, but I understand that they have an interest in owning something," Onstot said.

While the new locale presents an opportunity for the architectural firm to design its own offices, Butler said it also brings challenges.

"There are a lot of challenges in that when you say, We're going to do a new space,' everybody gets out their wish list," Butler said. "If we were able to do what everybody wanted, we would need four floors of a three-story building."

Though designs are not final, Butler said some unique ideas under discussion include a "war room" in what used to be a tower for water tanks on top of the building, and a roof garden, complete with grass flooring and landscaping.

"That's the kind of space that we don't have here now," Butler said of the war room, where teams of architects could join to critique projects. "We're trying to figure out how we could do that."

As for the roof garden, it may be too grandiose.

"If you think about it, you've got a roof garden out there and you're in the middle of this park area, what could be cooler? How much of that we're ever able to do, we just don't know," Butler added.

He said that's partially due to historic preservation restrictions. The aim is to bring the building back to its original state. "Because of historic preservations, what you see is what you get, except it will be a lot cleaner," Butler said. "It is going to look like the original warehouse."

Hagerman New Urbanism

Partners of Pellham Phillips Hagerman Architects/ Engineers have their sights on redeveloping a building on the southwest corner of Park Central Square. Jerry Hagerman and his son Bo, partners in Pellham Phillips Hagerman, have formed Hagerman New Urbanism, a development and architectural firm spin off. The Hagermans plan to renovate 122 Park Central West, at the corner of South Avenue and the square, into offices for Hagerman New Urbanism.

The new company is affiliated with Pellham Phillips Hagerman but focuses on "smaller, more creative projects," said Bo Hagerman. "Basically, what we're focusing on is projects that are smaller than what Pellham Phillips Hagerman likes to handle, and projects that we are developing ourselves."

Hagerman New Urbanism would occupy the top three floors of the four-story building, which Hagerman describes as "vertical space." The entire building is 5,000 square feet. An art gallery featuring a display of works by local artists is planned for the first floor. Hagerman hopes to be in the new office by mid-summer. He is awaiting contractor bids for the project.