Expertise » Historic Renovation + Adaptive Reuse

glaserworks strives to achieve a balanced dialogue between the past and the present. While we, as preservationists, defer to the accomplishments of the past, we are equally committed to marrying a building’s attributes to contemporary use and context; to preserve the historic with a contemporary interpretation of relevant forms and elements rather than a direct imitation of historical motifs. Adaptive reuse of historic and existing buildings, as demonstrated by our philosophy and portfolio of work, respects the principles and concepts of the original building but rightfully incorporates the evolutionary passage of time through designs that clearly belong to the present.

As stewards of Cincinnati’s architectural legacy, we are committed to a symbiotic understanding of a building’s need for historic preservation of architecture, interior design and engineering components. We seek to retain buildings of historic or architectural significance and adapt them to meet current needs. Our work is grounded in the experience and implementations that have turned our ideas into reality.

glaserworks’ experience with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, Historic Tax Credits, knowledge of federal, state and local preservation laws, and coordination with local preservation organizations fosters action and solutions in a well-tested philosophy of design excellence in historic buildings.

Urban Lofts

glaserworks has vast experience in the restoration and adaptive re-use of architecturally significant buildings throughout Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. The knowledge and use of Historic Tax Credits are instrumental in funding the renovation of vacant, dilapidated building shells in Cincinnati’s most economically depressed neighborhood.

In collaboration with each owner or developer, glaserworks strives to enrich the historic Italianate architecture while also creating marketable living units in a challenging neighborhood for an untested market. Each rehabilitation project brings its own challenges and opportunities for the preservation of the building’s unique historic features.

glaserworks’ design for Centennial Lofts involved the rehabilitation of four historic, Italianate rowhouses into eight condominium units. Similarly, the design for Bremen Lofts consisted of the renovation of four individual buildings into twenty residential lofts and one commercial space. Bracket Village comprises both renovated and new individual buildings.