The Reakirt Building

Project Narrative

The Reakirt Building is an award-winning adaptive reuse project for a landmark building (1925) in the Cincinnati Central Business District. The building, designed in the Chicago Commercial Style, is a prominent historic high rise on E. Sixth Street. The goal with this project was to re-energize the vacant street edge with vibrant new housing.

The available square footage was maximized by driving density with smaller (320-705 SF), well-appointed units. To meet the client’s request for a “luxury apartment feel,” finishes with a polished aesthetic, clean, neutral colors, and reflective surfaces were selected to help bounce light, thus making the small units feel larger and more spacious. This project proved the marketability of micro units in the City of Cincinnati. The eight micro units in this project were the first to lease. Communal amenities include the Sky Terrace, management offices, and a fitness room.

The building was restored to a stable state after evaluating, correcting, and reversing multiple low-quality repairs and renovations from prior decades. Restoring the ground floor barrel vault entry and maintaining the historic industrial windows were crucial for the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the design of the units. The large steel sash windows were replaced with aluminum replica windows which provide ample natural light in the residential spaces. Careful planning was done to meet the Secretary of Interior Standards. Prior to completion of the renovations the team led the effort to designate the Reakirt Building as a local landmark and have it listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The project also secured State and Federal Historic Tax Credits.

                                           

Project Details

Submission Category

Interior Architecture- Large Scale (>5,000 sf)

Date of Completion

December, 2019