To receive federal historic tax credits for the project, the historic research consultant, Restoration Exchange Omaha, filled out NPS’ Part 1 Evaluation of Significance document and, consequently, discovered historic photographs and drawings of the White Rose Service Station that had been published in a service-station magazine. (The team completed NPS’ Part 2 and 3, as well, and utilized the Nebraska Historic Tax Credit program, which matches the NPS funds.)
“We then had photos showing clay tile walls and the clay tile floor,” Zimmer explains. “The drawings were pretty generic, but they kind of showed the general layout and why the windows were placed as they were—so the service manager could stand in his office and see both bays of service for the cars and the gas pumps outside.”
The team began by removing walls that had been added over the years. They also revealed the original clay tile on the interior walls. “The conference room walls are the historic clay tile,” Zimmer states. “We took all the drywall and wood studs down and we scraped off all the glue and left those walls exposed.”
Around the existing historic steel windows throughout the first floor, the team exposed 6 inches of clay tile. “You get the idea that the clay tile is everywhere, but we only exposed it at the windows,” Zimmer says. All windows were cleaned, repaired and repainted, including a few windows that were discovered during construction. The owners of the 1980s Italian restaurant that occupied the space had removed the original garage bays and replaced them with decorative panels on the north and partial-height windows on the south. AO*’s team specified new aluminum windows reminiscent of the original service bay garage doors.
The conference room features carpet to help with the acoustics of the clay tile walls. “We also installed these tuck-and-roll car-interior-looking panels on the walls,” Zimmer mentions. “They’re kind of a nod back to car rumble seats of the past. We actually hired a company that does car-restoration work to make those.”
To improve the energy efficiency of the building, spray-foam insulation was installed in the attic and a variable refrigerant flow heat pump with heat recovery maintains the building’s heating and cooling.
LED lighting was specified throughout the space. On the exterior, the team was re- quired to recreate historic wall sconces. Zimmer recalls: “When Dundee Bank bought the building, there were at least three of these light fixtures still existing. By the time they closed on the building, the fixtures were gone. We had to have them rebuilt.”
Unique Stories
Typically, existing buildings generate stories of challenges and difficulties. Although the renovation of Dundee Bank’s new branch had its share of tests, fortunately, there were more stories to inspire others to follow the bank’s lead. For example, the service station’s original clay tile roof was in great condition. The roofing contractor removed the tiles and placed them on pallets before installing new underlayment and flashing. Then, the existing tiles were reinstalled. “That’s very doable with those tiles,” Zimmer notes. “They don’t degrade. As long as they’re not cracked, you can put the tile back on the roof.”
To create a drive-thru for bank customers, Dundee Bank had to purchase three adjacent houses, which were deconstructed rather than torn down. “We saved or sold all the historic windows if they were savable, the doors, the frames and more,” Zimmer recalls. “Two conference tables were made from the historic lumber of those houses and are in the bank now.”
To Zimmer, the entire year-and-a-half project was memorable, but he says he’ll never forget the moment he and Dundee Bank’s president discussed the former White Rose Service Station while meeting about the project across the street. “I remember looking at it and thinking what this building could actually become,” Zimmer points out. “It was like a spark of lightning. I knew we had to do it. I’ll never forget that.”
PHOTOS: Kessler Photography unless otherwise noted
Retrofit Team
Architect/Interiors: AO*, Omaha, Neb.
- Bryan Zimmer, AIA, principal
- Keith Herrman, AIA, project architect
- Nicole Malone, project designer
Owner: Dundee Bank, Omaha
Historic Research Consultant: Restoration Exchange Omaha
Civil Engineer: TD2 Co., Omaha
Structural Engineer: Nielsen-Baumert Engineering Inc., Omaha
MEP: Morrissey Engineering, Omaha
General Contractor: Dicon Corp., Omaha
Deconstruction Team: Johnson Deconstruct, Omaha
Roofing Contractor: Stonebrook Roofing, Lincoln, Neb.
Materials
Walk-off Carpet: Forbo Flooring
Carpet: Bolyu
Vinyl Base: Johsonite
Tile: Florida Tile
Solid Surface: Dupont
Laminate: Formica and Nevamar
Marker Boards: Deko
Paint: PPG
Plumbing Fixtures: Kohler, Briggs and Elkay
Interior Lighting: Halo, Tango, Focal Point Lights, Solovanti, Prudential Lighting Co. and Acuity Controls
Exterior Lighting: Lithonia Lighting
Replicated Exterior Wall Sconces: St. Louis Antique Lighting Co.
Mechanical: Mitsubishi
Upholstered Walls: Recovery Room Hot Rod Interiors
Custom Steel Furniture: Polynomial Metal Fabrication
Custom Reclaimed Furniture and Stair Treads: Reclaimed Enterprises Inc.
Furniture: Herman Miller
Exterior Aluminum Storefronts: 451 TCG from Kawneer
Restored Steel Windows with Interior Aluminum Storms: Kawneer
Skylights: FS from Velux
Brick and Cast Stone Site Wall: Nebraska Brick and Pacific Clay
Exterior Railing: Alumi-guard Inc.
Exterior Drive-thru Canopy Roofing: S-Deck from Berridge Manufacturing Co.
Infill Terra-cotta Roof Tile: Ludowici
Graphics: Secret Penguin
3 Comments
Great job Bryan. The building looks wonderful.
Very good article!
Way to go!