Crafting Communities and Art Spaces
View MoreLessThe Finn Lofts is located in the heart of what has come to be known as the commerce street arts district in Wichita, Kansas. The project converts an early century warehouse building into a community of dwellings, and retail spaces that compliments the local art community. The challenge was to create twenty seven residential units, all with natural light and ventilation. Originally used as a transfer point for cargo between locomotives and trucks, the existing structure has a large square floor plate with limited opportunities for apertures to the exterior. The solution is based on the simple notion that light can be borrowed both horizontally and vertically. By understanding the constraints and opportunities of the site and existing structure, our approach focuses on four strategies: Adapting, Removing, Carving and Adding.
- 2010
- Architect
- Wichita, KS
- 30,750 SF
Client
- Old Town Partners
Eldo Team
- Steve Salzer
- Chris Burk
- Doug Stockman
Collaborators
- Contractor: Farha Construction
- Civil Engineer: Landplan Engineering, P.A.
- Structural Engineer: Bob D Campbell & Associates
- MEP Engineer: PKMR
- Code Consultant: Code Consulting Services
Artists
- Mike Sinclair
- James Woodfill
Awards
- 2010 AIA Kansas City Design Excellence Awards - Citation Award
- 2011 ARCHITECT Magazine: Residential Architect Design Award (RADA) - Renovation Merit Award
- 2011 KC Home Design: Design Excellence Awards - Silver
- 2011 AIA Central States Region Excellence in Renovation - Merit Award
Press
- Dwell, Georgina Gustin, “Building Community,” 2011
- ArchDaily, Kelly Minner, “The Finn Lofts / El Dorado,” 2010
- Commercial Journal, Madeline Crawford, “A Solid Foundation,” 2011
- Wichita Business Journal, John Stearns, “KC Architects El Dorado Inc., Burly Studios Moving into Finn Commercial space,” 2012
- Architecture News Plus, “el dorado inc,” 2011
- Wichita Eagle, Carrie Rengers, “Finn Lofts Coming to Commerce Street; Area Could be Renamed” 2009
- Wichita Eagle, Bill Wilson, “Lofts in Finn Building in Arts District Taking Reservations” 2019
Photography
- Mike Sinclair