This innovative project is the renovation of approximately 48,000 square feet of existing space in a 1890s warehouse at 1606 Rowan Street, in the Portland neighborhood of West Louisville. The space will be occupied by the University of Louisville's Hite Art Institute's MFA program, as well as the Department of Anthropology's archaeology program. An extensive building renovation transformed what was a vacant warehouse into a vibrant space designed to benefit not only students and faculty, but also the community at large.
The former warehouse, built in the 1890s formerly served as a floorcovering distribution business, storage warehouse, and a senior nutrition center. In order to revive this space, an exciting collaborative partnership between Architect, Developer, and Tenant produced design opportunities and creative solutions resulting in the transformation of a complex under-utilized property. An emphasis was placed on thoughtful adaptive re-use, as the best form of sustainable building practice, while still remaining mindful of long-term economic development.
