A Major Upgrade

On a whim, I attended the WEDCO (Williams County Economic Development Corporation) Annual Meeting in December.  I don't believe in accidents.  I sat with a group from the Montpelier and Bryan Chambers of Commerce and, without any planning, a contractor from Wauseon.  Scott Mirtes owns The H L Frass Company which is a MEP contractor specializing in geo-thermal systems.  He recently purchased a former auto dealership for use as an office and showroom.  We struck up a conversation and, the beginning of January, I started work on his renovation project.

Williams County Regional Map

This is a little project that has occupied some of my time in the last few weeks.  The full project that goes along with this map is pretty interesting, but not public yet.

The group that I am working with wanted a good graphic to show how Williams County is connected with the region.  Most people - even life-long County residents - don't realize how close we are to some of the major metropolitan areas of the Midwest.  Yet we get to enjoy a lower cost of living (higher standard of living) and the quiet pace of rural life. 

Want some big-city excitement?  Hop in the car (or on the train!) and you are in Chicago in a few hours.  What's not to love?

Thanks to Jeanne Gardner for her EXCELLENT comments on the graphics and color, Quality Printing in Montpelier, and, of course, my in-house critics.

Have you ever seen a Press Box like this?

...neither has Northwest Ohio!

Montpelier's current Press Box is dedicated to the late Hip Klotz, but the reconstruction from the mid-1990s is in desparate need of an update.  So, almost immediately after we received the permit for the Storage Building, Dr. Grime called me to discuss the potential for a redo.  He said "Use your imagination..."  In this case, we have come up with a solution that is unique and interesting, but should cost about the same as a simple re-cladding and new roof for the existing building.

My first built work in Ohio!

Well, every architect has to start somewhere!  We moved to Montpelier in June and in September I got the call from Dr. Jamison Grime - Superintendent for the Montpelier Exempted Village Schools.  He needed an architect to design a storage building (20x30) for field equipment and the concession stand at the football stadium.  It would replace a small storage shed in the same location.  He wanted it simple, but it needed to match the color and material palette of the newly renovated Fieldhouse (the building behind). 

I completed the drawings and secured the permit from the State of Ohio by mid-November 2010.  Construction was completed in January 2011 by Matt Dye Construction, Montpelier.

Visit the Bryan Hospital

For anyone that says that there is nothing going on in Williams County...you haven't driven down High Street in Bryan.

The new Bryan Hospital (slated to be completed in August) is one of the most impressive facilities that I have seen in a long time.  We were honored to receive a tour yesterday from Dr. Nick Walz, Chief Medical Officer.  What an outstanding trip.

Rotary Park Shelter

My first project out of the gate...in fact my dad volunteered me for this one even before we moved from New York...is a new shelter for the Main Street Park in Montpelier.  The park is located on the site where Montpelier's High School once stood - also the site of my Master's thesis project.  Now a park without a shelter, the Montpelier Rotary Club have decided that they want to make an investment here.

My task was to design a shelter that has some class - especially considering that the residential neighborhood is composed of some of the best architecture in town.  With the help of my in-house critics (my wife and parents) the details bring to mind the transition between Victorian and Craftsman of 1900-1920 (the period of the neighborhood) and the proud railroad heritage of Montpelier.

The resulting project nearly knocked their socks off!

We are now in the process of receiving bids from local contractors.  The club hopes to have it completed by July - just in time for Montpelier's big summer festival!

First Post

I think that the best way to start is by laying out my priorities for this blog.  First, as a temporary substitute for a website, I will post bits of my current work.  Lots of people ask "So, what type of work do you do up there in Montpelier?"  "You should take a look at my blog" I will now reply!

Second, I think that there are some issues in both the practice and study of Architecture that I might mention on occasion.

Finally, it amazes me the variety of opportunities available in small-town America (btw, Montpelier's population is approximately 4,500; Williams County population +/- 30,000).  I will, from time to time, mention some of the excellent things going on here.

Now, I need to scrape up some images to show that I have been working...