Honoring the Past, Building the Future: Integrating Historic Elements

Finishing the Story at Dover High School

When the original Dover High School was designed in 1915, the architect incorporated a distinct feature above the main entrance—an ornamental, circular piece of masonry that would eventually house a clock. Unfortunately, a clock was never installed in this architectural feature. Though it remained empty for a century, the piece became an iconic and uniquely identifiable part of the school.

SHP was selected to design the new Dover High School in 2017, which would be constructed on the occupied high school site, a mere 5 feet away from the original 1915 building. Though the district was eager to have a new facility that met modern educational needs, they were also fielding calls from the community to preserve the iconic “clock tower” that they felt was special to their school.

Understanding how important this unique architectural feature was to the Dover community, we were able to safely remove and store the masonry while construction was underway. The piece was professionally restored and eventually placed outside the entrance of the new school. Even better, the original architect’s vision for the 1915 school was finally realized, more than 100 years later, with financial support from the community. A large clock with LED lighting was installed within the masonry in 2021. The final result is a prime example of how old and new can be powerfully and seamlessly combined.

Preserving Deer Park’s Heritage

For some building owners, the preservation of history is as much of a priority as efficiency and space. Such was the case at Amity Elementary School in Deer Park, Ohio. Originally built in 1907 and untouched since an addition in the 1960s, Amity Elementary no longer supported the needs of today’s young learners—but since the building was considered a historic community landmark, it was important to honor its heritage.

“We wanted to make sure we incorporated the rich tradition of Deer Park, while providing a 21st century educational experience to our students,” the former principal of Amity Elementary.

Focusing on preservation and modernization, the resulting design included the complete renovation of the building as well as a 50,000sf addition, which was completed in 2018. A new media center, a STEAM lab, and extended learning areas were integral in turning Amity Elementary into a modern, innovative learning environment, but the community’s distinct heritage “is evident when you first walk in the building,” said Smiley.

Inside the main entrance, visitors are welcomed by a large display detailing the timeline of the school, going all the way back to the one-room schoolhouse that was originally constructed on the site back in 1871. They can also view the Amity Bell—which was cast in 1874 and had been used to mark the start of the school day, warn of WWII air raids, and celebrate football victories over the years—and the Amity Stone from the original schoolhouse.

Blending History with Modernity at the Atlas Building

The Atlas Building sits just across the street from Fountain Square in the heart of Cincinnati’s Central Business District. When it initially opened as the home of Atlas National Bank in December of 1924, the building was opulent—but as things often go, the years took a toll. The building was renovated multiple times (which included the addition of modern enhancements like HVAC and sprinklers); ornate plaster ceilings were poked through and then concealed, and marble floors were covered with carpet.

Eventually, the Atlas Building became a pretty run-of-the-mill corporate office building. But when SHP was hired to work with Urban Sites to renovate the first and second floors of this historic structure into a modern “destination workplace,” our team quickly discovered that we were sitting on an incredible amount of history. After uncovering the building’s original beauty—including a lavish marble staircase and coffered ceilings—our priorities were to preserve and celebrate those elements while weaving them into a contemporary and comfortable design.  The lobby’s original marble floors were polished, the coffered plaster ceilings restored and painted a rich blue, and we intentionally built a glass opening around the staircase so visitors could admire a piece of the Atlas Building’s heritage.

With the historical features restored, we crafted a modern, comfortable space around them, with colorful geometric rugs, large murals, and plenty of seating options to accommodate heads-down work and socialization. Period-appropriate elements were integrated throughout, including an Art Deco font on building signage and new brass entry doors. The final result: A perfect balance of the building’s rich old-world architecture and clean, contemporary functionality.

Franklin High School Pays Homage

Sometimes, incorporating the past into a new build can be as simple as making thoughtful design choices, like we did during the construction of the new Franklin High School.  This project is the first part of a phased building program to replace inefficient and outdated facilities in the district; the original high school had been constructed in 1908 and was no longer able to support the needs of the school.

In response to the community’s desire for future-focused learning environments, our design features a blend of modern and traditional architectural components. We are particularly proud of the stately brick arches at the entrance to the school grounds. When students pass through those arches, they are, for a moment, more intimately connected to the proud history of their school and their community.