To convert a former office building into luxury apartments and retail, the project team on 640 Magazine Street was tasked with preserving a historic structure that consisted of three buildings that were built and renovated at three different times. The goal was to make the renovated structure look and function like a single building.

The team managed the structure’s existing conditions by flattening floors that were not level and reworking or replacing windows to match the historic profile.

The $21.1-million project also involved the structural rehabilitation and replacement of 100-year-old heavy timbers that dated back to the building’s original use as a coffee roasting and distribution facility. 

When installing the elevator and stairs in the middle of the structure, excavations uncovered industrial waste that required remediation work and altered the construction timing. 

The completed project marries modern technology with historic details and features 78,000 sq ft with 35 residential units, ground-floor retail and office space.

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