flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Historic power plant converted to modern offices in Minnesota

Architects

Historic power plant converted to modern offices in Minnesota

In 2010, a flood in Owatonna, Minn., damaged a power plant that Leo A Daly has renovated 


By Leo A. Daly | August 17, 2015
Leo A. Daly transforms Owatonna power plant after 2010 flood

Images courtesy Leo A. Daly

A landmark power plant in Owatonna, Minn., damaged in a 2010 flood has new life as the headquarters of Owatonna Public Utilities following a renovation by architects Leo A Daly.

When the Straight River flooded in 2010, 12 feet of water stood in the basement of the Owatonna power plant, a brick Italianate building with a distinctive neon sign, arched windows, and three silver smoke stacks. The flood damaged its generators, but OPU sought Leo A Daly's help in re-purposing the building into its new headquarters.

The interior volume of the turbine hall — 50 vertical feet of open space that had previously accommodated the plant’s massive boilers — guided Leo A Daly’s approach to space planning for the administrative and customer service spaces that would occupy the building.

Using the interior steel structure as scaffolding, Leo A Daly laid out atrium spaces and floating offices that cantilever over the ground floor. The effect is a series of connected spaces all lit by daylight through the building's large windows.

The building integrates artifacts from its pre-flood days. Boiler doors, valve covers, and valve wheels are re-presented in a gallery space. Bar grating is reused in the new building as railings. Energy efficient windows were installed while keeping the original window framing and some of the original glass in place. Colors, textures and materials from the original floor and equipment are incorporated.

To prevent future flood damage, flood doors were installed in a conditioned space below the flood line, which will allow river water to come and go without disrupting operations above. To pull this off, the architects had to raise the first occupiable floor by one foot.

Leo A Daly sees the Owatonna renovation as part of a growing trend. More cities are interested in repurposing their heritage facilities, rather than simply razing them and building new.

 

Tags

Related Stories

| Jan 30, 2014

What's in store for healthcare capital markets in 2014?

Despite the shake up stemming from the Affordable Care Act, 2014 will be an active year in healthcare capital markets, according to real estate experts from CBRE Healthcare.

| Jan 29, 2014

Richard Meier unveils 'urban courtyard' scheme for Mexico City towers

A grand atrium, reaching some 30 stories, highlights the contemporary, bright-white design scheme unveiled this week by Richard Meier & Partners for a new mixed-use development in Mexico City. 

| Jan 29, 2014

Historic church will be part of new condo building in D.C.

Sorg Architects unveiled a design scheme for 40 condos in a six-story building, which will wrap around an existing historic church, and will itself contain four residential units. 

| Jan 29, 2014

Hotel, retail, recreation sectors to lead growth in 2014

AIA's Consensus Construction Forecast, a survey of the nation’s leading construction forecasters, is projecting that spending will see a 5.8% increase in 2014, led by the hotel, retail, and amusement/recreation sectors. 

| Jan 29, 2014

Notre Dame to expand football stadium in largest project in school history

The $400 million Campus Crossroads Project will add more than 750,000 sf of academic, student life, and athletic space in three new buildings attached to the school's iconic football stadium. 

| Jan 29, 2014

AIA honors 18 with 2014 Young Architects Award

Three recent BD+C "40 Under 40" winners are among the outstanding young architects recognized by the AIA.

| Jan 28, 2014

White Paper: How metal buildings deliver long-term value to schools

A new white paper from Star Building Systems outlines the benefits of metal buildings for public and private school building projects.

| Jan 28, 2014

First Look: BIG's Honeycomb building for Bahamas resort [slideshow]

BIG + HKS + MDA have unveiled the design for the new Honeycomb building and adjacent plaza in The Bahamas – a 175,000-sf residential facility with a private pool on each balcony.

| Jan 28, 2014

2014 predictions for skyscraper construction: More twisting towers, mega-tall projects, and 'superslim' designs

Experts from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat release their 2014 construction forecast for the worldwide high-rise industry. 

| Jan 28, 2014

16 awe-inspiring interior designs from around the world [slideshow]

The International Interior Design Association released the winners of its 4th Annual Global Excellence Awards. Here's a recap of the winning projects.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021