Monthly Project Feature - Elevar Design Group Headquarters

Elevar Design Group Headquarters | Cincinnati, OH

PROJECT FACTS: Owner: Elevar Design Group | Cincinnati, OH Size: 59,750 SF Cost: $5,000,000 Services: Architecture, Engineering, Planning, Interiors, Construction Management

The new Elevar Design Group headquarters is located in historic Queensgate, just west of downtown Cincinnati. This former warehouse which was originally constructed in 1899 now is home to a growing staff of architects, engineers, and interior designers. Fully designed in house by the Elevar staff with historical sensitivity in mind, every aspect of this building has been modernized and updated to support modern day work space needs.

Once serving as a wholesale hardware, industrial supplies, heating & air equipment supplies, home furnishings, and metal service center, this heavy timber construction building required specialized and custom connections and fabrications to adapt to a 21st century use. For example, when constructed in the 19th century, heavy machinery loads of 150 pounds per SF were necessary to take into account. During our renovation, Elevar removed many of the structural members on the first and second floors because they were not necessary for current use.

This renovation was a challenging project from a structural perspective.

The building is located along the Ohio River on silt soil. Seventeen 40’ deep piles had to be added to the footings, primarily around the new elevator and stairs to secure the foundation. Over the last hundred years the columns have settled at varying paces, creating a difference of about 8” floor level difference within each floor. To correct this, Elevar had to pour floor leveling especially on the ground floor on the building.

This historic building structure does not use common hardware that can be found in today’s construction. The entire building is held together by gravity: cast iron column fittings that connect the beams and columns with no hardware connections. Therefore, finding materials and laborers to complete the project was difficult because most contractors are not familiar with this type of construction.

New custom windows of various sizes were installed and a clerestory was added to the roof to bring in ample natural light to the open work spaces.

The exterior brick was cleaned and re-tuckpointed, however Elevar decided to leave the painted signage of the Belmer company intact.

Project Feature

Elevar Design Group Headquarters | Cincinnati, OH

The first floor of the building serves as the main secured entrance, located directly off the main open garage space, finished with new glass garage doors. Visitors are greeted into the main gallery and lobby space, which is open to the enclosed glass of the second floor tenant space. On the first floor resides the marketing, administrative, and accounting staff. A large state-of-the-art conference room with a full kitchen serves for heavily staffed internal meetings and as a main meeting space for clients. An employee fitness area, full showers, a mother’s room, and extra leasable tenant space are also located on the first floor. The second floor of the building is reserved for the use of a future tenant.

The third floor of the building houses the majority of Elevar’s architectural and interior design staff. The fourth floor houses the remainder of the design staff, the engineering team, and the executive suites. A tall atrium between the third and fourth floors opens up the two levels punctuated by the clerestory overhead. Situated in this open area is Elevar’s Family Room - a non-formal, fun, collaborative meeting space complete with a twisty slide, couches and chairs, a swing, and a connecting staircase. Each of these floors have ample conference room space, break-out huddle rooms, and large production rooms.

The additional fifth floor collaboration space was designed in house by Elevar’s founder, structural engineer and architect, Emilio Fernandez. With panoramic views of the city facing north and east, and an outdoor seating area to appreciate the amazing cityscape view, this collaboration space serves the staff to foster connection, encourage brainstorming sessions, boost interaction between teams, and provide a space for decompression.

From start to finish, the design and construction process took two years.

Accented in Elevar’s brand color throughout, the new office truly reflects Elevar’s unique personality and provides ample room for its staff to grow.

Project Feature