NEW CONSTRUCTION

The Floating Third: Historic Building Renovation & Modern Residential Addition

A riverbank build defined by deep concrete pier foundations, compound angle framing, and a continuous high-performance envelope.

YEAR

2022-2026

LOCATION

Fletcher Place

ARCHITECTURE

HAUS | Architecture For Modern Lifestyles

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  • YEAR : 2022-2026
  • LOCATION : Fletcher Place
  • ARCHITECTURE : HAUS | Architecture For Modern Lifestyles
3D render of a historic building renovation featuring a cantilevered modern third-story addition and covered rooftop deck built by WERK.

The Floating Third: Historic Building Renovation & Modern Residential Addition

Engineering the Substructure: 100-Year-Old Foundations & Adaptive Scope

Project Overview

Transforming historic commercial structures into modern residential spaces requires an acute understanding of legacy construction methods. Originally constructed over a century ago, the existing building showcased traditional turn-of-the-century masonry—where continuous multi-wythe brick walls extended down to rest directly on gravel and stone beds rather than modern spread footings.

Recognizing the structural limitations of the original footprint, our collaborators at HAUS helped guide the project through an extensive year-long scoping, feasibility, and engineering study. To achieve a structurally sound result without placing unmanageable loads on the historic brickwork, the scope was strategically refined. The new rooftop residential addition was re-engineered to sit above the more recent structural steel and reinforced CMU addition. To ensure total stability across all eras of the building, WERK coordinated the installation of deep helical pier foundations beneath the existing substructure, successfully transferring loads safely past the historical soil beds.

Please check-back for updates to the story!

PROJECT INFO:

Architecture/Interior Design/Photography/Renderings: HAUS | Architecture
Contractor: WERK | Building Modern

Street-level 3D render showing custom wood-clad entry canopy and historic masonry facade updates built by WERK.
High-angle 3D aerial render of a modern residential addition over a historic masonry building on a urban corner site by WERK.
Eye-level 3D render showing the floating third-story modern addition suspended above the historic masonry base by WERK.
Primary corner perspective rendering of the original larger-scope scheme showcasing the visual contrast between the heavy masonry base and the floating upper volume.
High-angle 3D render showing an enclosed urban courtyard, rear parking pad, and upper-level covered outdoor decks built by WERK.
High-angle rendering displaying the private urban courtyard, structured parking zone, and multi-tier deck + interior spaces designed to maximize the downtown Indianapolis skyline views.
3D perspective render showing expansive floor-to-ceiling glass walls and structural overhangs on a modern residential addition by WERK.
Perspective view of the original project scope/scheme illustrating the expansive glazing system, structural roof overhangs, and seamless indoor-outdoor deck connections overlooking the downtown Indianapolis skyline.

Overcoming Complex Construction & Trade Logistics

Building a modern rooftop volume on a tight urban footprint presents dynamic, real-world construction challenges. During the initial demolition of the pre-existing rooftop structure, weather events required immediate site intervention, temporary enclosure measures, and extensive remediation to safeguard the existing lower-level spaces.

As framing progressed, trade sequencing and labor constraints required active, daily management by WERK. Navigating staffing transitions across primary framing scopes meant re-allocating trade resources, onboarding specialized carpenters mid-stream, and working hard to maintain momentum to supplement trade labor shortages. Our team re-sequenced scopes on the fly, utilizing our remaining, trusted trade partners to step in for complex exterior ceiling systems, exterior rainscreen cladding and decking details.

Uncompromising Detail & Precision Interior Finishing

Modernist detailing leaves zero margin for error, and bringing this custom residential interior to life demanded meticulous oversight. Integrating custom millwork, integrated cabinetry, and complex trim details into an existing, out-of-plumb historic envelope requires an exceptional level of precision and patience.

Working alongside an owner with a sharp design vision and exacting standards, WERK navigated extended material lead times, fragmented finish-carpentry schedules, and trade handoffs with persistent dedication. Through ongoing coordination between specialty fabricators, metalworkers, and custom finish trades, every reveal was aligned and every surface brought to standard.

A Resilient Execution

Complex, highly custom historic transformations naturally test project logistics, trade partnerships, and site communication. From navigating custom exterior gate and fence fabrications to managing intricate interior adjustments on non-standard walls, WERK remained steadfast in its role as the building partner—holding the line on quality, structural integrity, and architectural intent.

The result is a quietly triumphant urban synthesis: a 100-year-old masonry anchor crowned by a crisp, modern third-story retreat, engineered to stand strong for its next century.

We will be sharing live progress, structural engineering details, and final finish photography on this page as the project reaches full completion—stay tuned!

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