A complete gut of the interior not being possible, the development team worked to find innovative solutions. In the end, the challenge required flexibility and inventiveness, resulting in a design in which no two units of the 84 total have the exact same layout or aesthetic. Each resident family enjoys a unique home within the Voke.
The 116,000-square-foot building had been decommissioned for only a few years before WinnDevelopment took over its custody, so much of the interior was still in very good condition. The roof had not yet begun to leak, and the exposed brick in many areas was less challenging to restore. The existing plaster walls, badly deteriorated by cold winters without any heat in the building, were the major exception and had to be replicated with drywall.
The team focused on exposing as much of the original architectural elements— structural columns and beams, wood decking, brick walls—to the fullest extent possible. The goal was to allow these elements to be part of the Voke’s resurgence and help tell the story of its past.
The team removed degraded finishes and replaced them with more appropriate ones for residential applications. The 12- to 14-foot-high ceilings, exposed beams and enormous windows naturally lent themselves to creating bright, airy lofts and apartments, and the double-loaded corridors were used to the advantage of the new residential programming. Although it was impossible to retain much of the original, noisy wood flooring, replacing it with a composite flooring made with recycled content provided the look of wood but with much-needed sound dampening. The team also installed a state-of-the-art high-efficiency HVAC system.
Many of the spaces lent themselves naturally and others, surprisingly, to their new programming as shared amenity spaces. The Voke’s original school lobby now serves as a resident lobby and main entrance while a former boiler room is now a resident lounge with access to the outdoor kids’ play area. An exercise room and art gallery occupy what once was a student trade shop.
Paying Homage to the Past
Now renamed Voke Lofts as homage to the building’s history, government officials, investors, locals and press are hailing the project as a significant achievement for Worcester. As a mixed-income multifamily dwelling, it provides much needed affordable housing for city residents. As part of the “Gateway District” redevelopment plan, Voke Lofts serves as a hub for continued redevelopment of the area, including other historic structures nearby. The market-rate units have been eagerly sought by young professionals, many with families. And combined with Worcester’s revitalized downtown life, projects like Voke Lofts encourage many natives to continue residing in Worcester after high school or college.
As the second-largest city in New England (and growing), Worcester deserves to take pride in its history and heritage. The transformation and preservation of a building like the Voke offers citizens an anchor for that pride.
Retrofit Team
Architect: The Architectural Team, Chelsea, Mass.
Developer: WinnDevelopment, Boston
Window installer: Thermo Experts Inc., Pittsfield, Mass.
Masonry supplier/contractor: D&S Masonry Inc., Wrentham, Mass.
Lighting supplier: Boston Light Source, Boston