Fire trucks and police just arrived on scene at the Schofield building. Workers are all gathered at the PNC plaza. Hopefully whatever happened doesn't set the project back too much.

 

 

Good thing I'm not downtown today -- my office is right next door!

 

EDIT: great photo, BTW!

WKYC is reporting this:

 

CLEVELAND -- Cleveland firefighters are on the scene of a triple two-alarm call in a downtown building, where there are reports of a wire in a power box arcing.

The building, located at 2000 East 9th Street, between Euclid and Prospect avenues, has been evacuated and crews are trying to shut off the power to the building. The building is currently under construction.

Damnit

There may not be too much damage.  An arcing power box that causes a fire can not be extinguished with water, so that is why it may require so much manpower.

 

Also, (Im guessing) walls are not up, it should be easy to trace the cables coming from that boxx

Looks like the windows at the Schoefield Building are about to be replaced. They've removed a few floors worth of windows on the back of the building. This is seen from the City Club Building in downtown Cleveland.

Looks like the windows at the Schoefield Building are about to be replaced. They've removed a few floors worth of windows on the back of the building. This is seen from the City Club Building in downtown Cleveland.

 

I noticed that a lot more of the window openings have been framed in with lumber in the last week or so. Hopefully all new windows will go in soon!

I noticed that a lot more of the window openings have been framed in with lumber in the last week or so. Hopefully all new windows will go in soon!

Indeed.  They started yesterday and are getting them in at a decent clip.

Indeed.  They started yesterday and are getting them in at a decent clip.

 

Looking good!!!  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

 

Hopefully, with the windows going in this will mean that more of the inside work can be completed??

I was actually surprised that the windows were going in before all of the masonry repair and replacement.  It seems like there would be a high risk of breaking them, but I suppose they are professionals and know what they are doing.

From our perch in the City Club Building, it looks like they've done some work on the brick on the upper floors of the Schofield, including the very top decorative elements.

From our perch in the City Club Building, it looks like they've done some work on the brick on the upper floors of the Schofield, including the very top decorative elements.

 

Pictures??  :-D

Pulling the crappy metal covering off this building, restoring the gorgeous brick color, reinstalling historically sensitive windows...  I feel like I'm living in some fantasy world where historic buildings are treated with care instead of being destroyed...in Cleveland! 

 

Walking back to my office around 7:30PM last night, after screening a movie at CIFF, I stopped at E9/Euclid.  The corner was deserted - just me and the Schofield.  I looked into the future and tried to picture this corner one year from now...I can't wait!

From our perch in the City Club Building, it looks like they've done some work on the brick on the upper floors of the Schofield, including the very top decorative elements.

 

Pictures??  :-D

 

 

Note the sparks from a welder falling through several floors from the 8th floor. If you look closely, you can see the large holes cut through multiple floors.

 

Brickwork being done to the Schofield as seen from the 10th floor of the City Club Building.

 

Construction staging area in the East 8th alley for all the buildings under rehab/construction in the area.

^Man, I'm jealous of your view! 

I am part of the architectural team working on this project. I'd be happy to answer anyone's questions regarding the project. Let me know!

I am part of the architectural team working on this project. I'd be happy to answer anyone's questions regarding the project. Let me know!

 

Cool. When do the construction tours start? :-P

 

Seriously, why are the floors opened up in back? I see that's the case from about the ground floor or second floor to at least the 8th floor.

 

And will the turret be restored to the top of the building, at the corner of 9th and Euclid?

Thanks rockitect,

Which company or companies are responsible for the specialty carving (cutting?/molding?) of the more distinctive stone or terracotta elements?

Any idea when those things will begin to be installed?  I'm curious about how they researched and modeled the elements so they might be as close as possible as replicas of the original details on the building. Were original plans stored someplace, or will they have to improvise from photos, etc?

 

Seriously, why are the floors opened up in back? I see that's the case from about the ground floor or second floor to at least the 8th floor.

 

I really didnt think i'd be posting these but since you mentioned this.

Took yesterday evening while we were on a walk.

 

 

 

Wow, thanks!! So it looks like they're replacing the floors one section at a time, correct? Or is it just as-needed?

Sections of floors are being replaced as needed and infilled with new construction. Due to the age of the building, its using a hybrid system of a steel frame with a floor system made of clay tile. The tile acts, basically as a double barrel arch in between the main structural bays. This has ramifications when adding modern systems to the building interior, as one is quite limited on where and what size holes can be cut within these bays to run new chases for new MEP systems. In turn, its actually more practical to remove entire bays of the floor, and re-infill with a modern concrete on steel deck system. In short, the entire interior is getting turned into swiss cheese, only to be put back together again. Users of the building who did not see it under construction will have no idea, of course.

 

VIP (I think they still have a big banner on the building scaffolding) is doing the historic masonry restoration, with a restoration specialist architect. I believe its been both a combination of photos, previous construction documents from the building, and speciality knowledge of knowing what types of profiles were typically used on a building of this style from this era. Its no small effort.

 

The cupola, as it is technically called, on the corner of East 9th and Euclid, is not being restored back to the original. This is actually partially driven by the entities the project is getting historic credits from, and what state they would like to see the building "returned" to. As I understand it, they felt that the cupola had been removed for such a long time that returning would fall into creating a false sense of history, which both state and federal levels are adamantly against. There were and are other factors at play, but that is the long and short of it.

 

Its important to keep in mind with projects like this, that while it might be a historic restoration of the building's exterior aesthetics, from a building systems standpoint, these projects are complete modernization efforts.

Thanks for the information - I've always said one of the forum's strengths are our members who can provide details like this.

^Seriously!  Thanks, rockitect, that's fascinating!

A quick pic at lunch today.

Looking so much better.

getting some windows in

 

Wow, totally appreciate the 'full report' from rockitect.

and although im resigned to the fact that the cupola will not be coming back, everytime I hear or read somebody in-the-know confirm that fact...it sort of hits me in the stomach. But i quickly recover, lol.

 

As an aside...my mother was going thru a box of family artifacts recently and found a postcard that my grandfather sent to my grandmother from South Bend, Ind. before they were even married. I fall into the "older" category (by chronological age, only haha) so this would be the era of the twentysomethings great-grandparents.

Anyway, it was addressed to her name, c/o a Dr's office where she worked (name of doctor difficult to read) , Schofield Bldg, Cleveland, Ohio

Thats it. No street name or number.

I flipped.

Its written in pencil, so at 85 years old the postcard has held up well but is somehwat fading.

Glad that Ive mentioned "Schofield" many times now to my mother because she immediately put it aside  after seeing that address on the card.

 

Hopefully, this will be put in a frame with the writing showing and a photo of a renovated Schofield.

 

...personal aside over.

 

Yes, it was common not to have to put an address on a piece of mail if it were an important building.  In a small community a name and the community were plenty, too.

Now, as for the cupola. it's a cop-out.  There's no "false sense of history" of any kind  :oops: were the cupola to be returned.  The building was built with it in 1902, as far as I know, and that's the whole story.  Perfect restoration would be to rebuild the cupola which, incidentally, is very small considering the size of the building as well as the size of the project.  But it does, indeed, have a crowning effect, as the original architect had in mind.  It's true the building went through much of its history without the cupola - why, I don't know, and it would be interesting to find out why it disappeared when the building was fairly new - but that's no excuse.  If no effort is made to rebuild the cupola it's someone trying to save money  :lol: and construction time. Period. That's the whole thing. It doesn't matter how much expertise is put into the remainder of the exterior, nor is it a security thing. The room up there needn't be available to hotel guests, etc., but it should be there.

:yap: :police:

lafont, matters involving the cupola sound more complicated than simply "saving money" and in fact appear to be beyond the owner's control. You are welcome to come to whatever conclusion puts you at a state of equilibrium, but I believe the owner deserves the benefit of the doubt in the absence of more/better information.

Thanks, all. Glad to help!

 

Yea, lafont, its just not that simple re:the cupola, unfortunately. Believe me, if it would have made sense to restore it to what it was everyone involved in the project would have been for it. Again, there are often really complex factors at play, often out of the control of the team putting the project and deal together. I'd like to think what we are doing people are going to be quite happy and impressed with. I cannot understate how technically complex this project is on every level. I don't think it is hyperbole to say it might be the most complicated historic restoration project that has been done in downtown.

 

No hotel guests will be going above floor 7. The hotel is using most of the ground floor (and basement), then has rooms on 2-7. Floors 8 through 14 are 55 apartment units. The views from the upper units, particular the apartment unit at the corner of the building at East 9th and Euclid, will be incredible. I think the 14th floor corner unit will be just about the best apartment in the city.

 

The coolest part of the corner units at the East 9th and Euclid corner is that one will be able to stand in that part of the building and see down to Public Square out of the left side of your vision field (and feel like you can reach out and grab the Soldiers and Sailors Monument!), while looking straight ahead and you see right down East 9th to the lake, while out of the right of your vision, you see right down to Playhouse Square and CSU, while also seeing the Ameritrust Tower & Rotunda. Its a pretty incredible view. Because you aren't used to seeing such a wide panorama so high up, your mind actually tries to tell you that you must cantilevering out over the street, when you're obviously not. Its a really cool effect. Its possible because the City Club building next door steps back where it hits Schofield, allowing Schofield to have a window on each floor on the west side of the building where the City Club steps back. That and the curve of the building at East 9th and Euclid create the effect.

I appreciate it when architects still love and tout a project even when it probably causes them to age a little faster.

Wow!  It's great to see this building progressing!  I don't see anyway to be unsatisfied with this project, even minus the cupola.  Just take a moment to consider the previous condition, and what a slim chance this building probably had at one point.  Thank you Rockitect for all of the detailed posts. 

 

Off topic a bit:  This was part of the State tax credits right?  I need to get some pictures of it's "little brother" The Onesto, in Canton.  It's getting windows now and was also awarded tax credits from the state.

More windows going in.

Nice angle.

This is a gorgeous building. How anyone wanted to cover this up is beyond me. I haven't been back to Downtown Cleveland in about a year and a half. I can't wait to get back and check out everything that's happening.

Another way to look at the situation, I'm glad they decided to cover it, rather than tear it down. 

That's very true. This dramatic restoration would never be able to happen.

Another way to look at the situation, I'm glad they decided to cover it, rather than tear it down.

 

Exactly. Its even kind of fun. How often do you get "new" historic buildings!

MayDay, do you have any pics of the old cladding?

MayDay, do you have any pics of the old cladding?

Look at page 1 of the thread.

Honestly, other than the cornice, it wasn't that bad.  That said, the red brick is a significantly better look.

Thanks MayDay!

 

It somehow looked smaller with the cladding (IMHO)

Honestly, other than the cornice, it wasn't that bad.  That said, the red brick is a significantly better look.

 

No, it wasn't a bad looking building at all and would be perfectly acceptable for that corner ... IF it hadn't been a facade covering the gorgeous architecture of the Schofield Building.  Thankfully in this so-called Post Modernist age we came to our senses and rescued the older building from within as we've reversed the 50s/60s mentality that old = bad and new = good, ... at least regarding architecture.

 

 

No, it wasn't a bad looking building at all and would be perfectly acceptable for that corner ... IF it hadn't been a facade covering the gorgeous architecture of the Schofield Building.  Thankfully in this so-called Post Modernist age we came to our senses and rescued the older building from within as we've reversed the 50s/60s mentality that old = bad and new = good, ... at least regarding architecture.

 

Is our emotional attachment to architecture cyclical? From what I see it goes from loved (new), hated (somewhat old), and back to cherished (very old). We view architecture from the 50-70's as horrible, just the same as they viewed pre-war buildings. Imagine, in another 20-30 years we'll have people protesting the demolition of the Justice Center. :-o You are starting to see it already with housing. Isn't mid-century modern the trendy house style now?

Is our emotional attachment to architecture cyclical? From what I see it goes from loved (new), hated (somewhat old), and back to cherished (very old). We view architecture from the 50-70's as horrible, just the same as they viewed pre-war buildings. Imagine, in another 20-30 years we'll have people protesting the demolition of the Justice Center. :-o You are starting to see it already with housing. Isn't mid-century modern the trendy house style now?

 

Of course it is. Been that way since we started recording history.

You are starting to see it already with housing. Isn't mid-century modern the trendy house style now?

 

I had to chuckle when I read your comment.  For almost my entire life I hated mid century modern.  For some strange reason I imagined it as "cheap" which really is not the case.  In the past five years I have come to really admire it and would have no trouble living in such a house (especially one with lots of windows).  You are right...funny how taste's change.

There is a span of about forty years where they don't brag about when the structure was built. 

The cladding was not horrible, but it definitely was done in the all too familiar tones of brown, tan and grey that's everywhere in Cleveland.  Blends perfectly with that corner, but that also makes the building disappear.  The red brick will definitely "pop." 

Does anyone have any idea when the Schofield building lost its so-called cupola?  Was it there until the 1960s remodeling? I always see it in the photos with the Citizen Building when the latter had its temple front, but I'm wondering if the cupola was only removed with the big remodeling.  It does appear in a 1928 sketch I have.  When I said the Schofield Building may have have had the cupola through much of its history, I was mistaking it for the building at East 4th and Euclid, which I know lost its little appendage quite early on.