.U Northea up historic renovation

felr ABour TURNING lemons into I. lemonade. Manv dealers are finding that a slower ".ono-y allows time for much-needed upgrades and improvements.

This was the case at Sanford & Hawley, a 126-year-old pro dealer with locations in Unionville. Avon. Manchester, and Unionville, Ct., and Springfield, Ma. The chain installed a new company-wide computer system and undertook extensive renovations of its oldest location. in Unionville.

"The actual amount of warehouse space was virtually unchanged, old to new," said president Bob Sanford. "The big difference was that the amount of materials and items we are able to stock increased considerably with the new storage systems from

Sunbelt."

According to Sanford, the renovation took just l4 months, from concept to completion, even though construction occurred during a particularly harsh winter. "Because of the economy, there were nowork delays because everyone was available," he said.

The centerpiece of the Unionville location is a woolen mill built in 1800, which became the company's first retail store four years later. It sits beside a brook that once supplied water-driven power to the mill. As the business grew, several storage structures were constructed on the I .4-acre site. During the 1980s and 1990s, two nearby homes were purchased and repurposed for storage and offices.

Homeowners from ll nearby homes were initially opposed to the company's plan to replace five of the older buildings with a new steel-sided, drive-through warehouse. Of particular interest was one of the re-purposed homes, which had been built by Sanford's great-grandfather in the 1890s and later served as the office of Service Agency Insurance.

To coordinate with the design of neighboring homes, architect Jack Kemper specified simulated, dividedlight windows from Koltech and lowmaintenance, cellular-PVC clapboards and shiplap siding from NuCedar for the new 54'x195' warehouse. The historic home used for offices was moved to a new spot beside the warehouse's entrance and remodeleG.

Inside the single-aisle warehouse, Sunbelt installed its PowerBin automated lumber-storage system, with mezzanine and catwalk access to upper bin levels; rack storage for drywall and palletized products, and Aframe racks for moulding and trim. On the outside wall of the warehouse. 160' of five-tier cantilever racking was installed for lumber.

"Sunbelt also provided layout and product slotting to maximize storage capacity, reduce damage to products due to excessive handling, reduce labor cost and requirements, and provide a neat, clean, safe display of products," explained Sunbelt v.p. Parris Stapleton.

During construction, fiber optic lines were installed so all the buildings were tied into the company's new Progressive Solutions software. The computer system also controls a new wireless network with hand-held tablets to simplify order fulfillment.

Sanford said. "Contractors love the convenience of the new system," which allows barcodes to be scanned in the warehouse so sales orders can be printed at the end and invoices automatically emailed to customers.

Just six months after completion, everyone seems more than pleased with the entire project. Just last month, the Home Builders Association of Connecticut recognized the renovation as the best adaptive reuse of a historic structure in the whole state.

"The renovation made efficient use of a tiny parcel in a developed downtown area that abuts residential neighbors," said Sanford. "We are very proud that we were able to stay in the spot that has been our home for 126 years."

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