We’re glad prolific restaurateur Dave Bailey was brave enough to breathe life into an historic mid-century bank building that had been vacant for over ten years. Turning the former Hamiltonian Federal Savings and Loan Association into the second location of Bailey’s Rooster was no easy feat. After stripping the interior of makeshift partitions and old finishes, a significant rear addition was built to house a second dining room, large commisary-style kitchen/bakery, truck dock and mechanical lift.

Great care was taken to ensure the addition would not compete with the original structure: there is a clear visual distinction between old and new, and  its simple brick pattern was inspired by other nearby mid-century modern buildings. The building’s renovation strove to honor the integrity of the original design by maintaining a transparent, open and light feel. The original aluminum and glass storefront glazing and the plinth were preserved. The main entry stairs were reworked to accommodate ADA accessibility requirements.

Columns, fascia, and the stone cladding were given a darker color which further enhances the original concept of convergence of contrasting materials and brings consistency to the overall project. The structural bay and mullion spacing are consistent with original building. The new patio adjacent to the existing building was held below finished floor elevation to maintain the existing plinth which gives the building a floating appearance. Careful placement of rooftop units, street sight line studies, building sections, and cost analysis determined the ultimate parapet/building height.

Click here to read more about this elegant building.