Sol Harris Day Architecture

For years, those needing social services in the County of Summit, Ohio had to navigate multiple buildings with extremely limited parking for assistance. 250 individuals patronize the Summit County Department of Job and Family Services daily. They would come during difficult times in their lives, only to be presented with yet another set of obstacles and frustrations for them. Focused on improving their facilities, services and creating economic efficiencies, the Summit County Department of Job and Family Services made the decision to team with Amerimar Realty to renovate a building on the former campus of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in Akron Ohio.

Services

  • Master Planning
  • Facility Assessments
  • Space Utilization
  • Architecture
  • Interior Design
  • Owners Rep

This move not only improves accessibility to valuable county services for the citizens of Summit County, but it also returns this historic building to productive use and helps increase neighborhood property values. It is a positive step for preserving the history and character of the Firestone Park neighborhood.

Kristen Scalise, Akron Fiscal Officer

Historic Preservation + Tax Credits

Originally built during the World War I era as a warehouse and shipping facility, the triangle shaped building was registered as part of a Historic District by the project team consisting of SōL Harris/Day Architecture and Chambers, Murphy & Burge Restoration Architects. Great care and creativity were taken to update the building to modern standards yet reflecting its period of historical significance. This process by the architectural team ensured historic guidelines were met, therefore securing several million dollars in tax credits for the owner through Federal and State programs.  This tax credit program helped make the project financially feasible. 

Highlighting all the preservation efforts, the project earned the Preservation Merit Award from the Ohio History Connection, from the State Preservation Office.

A True Collaboration

This project was a true collaboration between developer and tenant. Amerimar treated the County of Summit if they were developing it specifically for them, allowing their input during the whole creative process, from initial space planning down to interior finish selections. Multiple iterations of space planning were explored to make sure the layout of the consolidated offices was as efficient as possible.  This was done to address the public access to the building but also improve the internal workings of County departments.

Moving these offices into a single location provides the County of Summit with long-term facility savings of more than $10 million over the next 20 years, as well as additional savings from operational efficiencies.

Highlights

  • Worked with the County of Summit to create efficiencies of overlapping use among eight (8) county departments.
  • Delivered creative solutions to the structural and ceiling height challenges in the existing building.
  • The newly renovated building is designed to fit the County’s needs with a modern plan, providing visitors one convenient location and free parking.
  • Met historic preservations requirements set forth by the State of Ohio and National Register of Historic Places

Moving these offices from multiple locations to one building provides our residents with a more convenient and streamlined operation.

Russ Pry, County Executive

Meet the Team

  • Matt Sutter
  • Eric Dalpiaz

Awards

  • Ohio History Connection Preservation Merit Award

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K-12

Alliance City SchoolsAshland County-West Holmes Career CenterCanton City SchoolsCarrollton Exempted Village SchoolsCentral Catholic High SchoolChippewa Local SchoolsCrestwood Local SchoolsCuyahoga Valley Christian AcademyThe Golden Key for Exceptional ChildrenGreen Local Schools (Green, Ohio)Green Local Schools (Smithville, Ohio)Indian Creek Local SchoolsJackson Local SchoolsLake Local SchoolsMarlington Local SchoolsMassillon City SchoolsNordonia Hills City School DistrictNorth Canton City SchoolsNorthwest Local SchoolsOsnaburg Local SchoolsPerry Local SchoolsRG Drage Career Technical CenterRootstown Local SchoolsSandy Valley Local SchoolsSolon City SchoolsSt. Michael SchoolStark County Board of Developmental DisabilitiesStrasburg-Franklin Local SchoolsTallmadge City SchoolsTriway Local SchoolsWayne County Schools

Higher Education

Ashland UniversityBelmont CollegeBethany CollegeBluffton UniversityThe College of WoosterGrove City CollegeIndiana Wesleyan UniversityKent State UniversityKenyon CollegeMalone UniversityMount Vernon Nazarene UniversityNorth Central State CollegeStark State CollegeThe Ohio State UniversityUniversity of AkronUniversity of Mount UnionWalsh UniversityWashington State Community College

Workplace

3D Business AcceleratorAdvanced Storage SystemsAirtex ProductsAkron-Canton AirportAkron Community FoundationASC IndustriesArtsinStarkBekaertBridgestone AmericasCampbell Oil CompanyCarroll County TransitCutler RealtorsDiebold NixdorfDix CommunicationsEnvironmental Design GroupFedex Custom CriticalFirst MeritGE CapitalGreat Lakes ConstructionIn The RoundKiko Auctioneers and RealtorsLean DogLG FuelNational Inventors Hall of FameNickles BakeryPegasus FarmPenske TruckPro Car Automotive GroupProgressive InsuranceS.D. Myers IndustriesSecuritas Electronic SecurityStark Community FoundationSummit County Department of Job & Family ServicesSterling JewelersStruktol Company of AmericaTaylor BankThe Timken CompanyStark County CommissionersTomTod Ideas Inc.United Glass and Panel SystemsUnited Way of Greater Stark CountyThe Vasco GroupYoung Truck

Recreation

Alliance Country ClubAlliance Family YMCAAshland County ParksBoy Scouts of AmericaBrookside Country ClubBucyrus Area YMCACambridge YMCACampCarl.lifeCongress Lake Country ClubEric Snow YMCA (Downtown Canton)Ernie's Bicycle ShopFirestone Country ClubGeauga Park DistrictGirl Scouts of North East OhioGlenmoor Country ClubLakota YMCALouisville YMCAMassillon Boys & Girls ClubMinerva YMCAMount Vernon YMCAMurfreesboro Tennis ComplexMuskingum Watershed Conservancy DistrictNorth Canton YMCAParamount Tennis ClubPaul & Carol David YMCA (Jackson)Pegasus FarmShady Hallow Country ClubSilver Lake Country ClubStark ParksStark County Wilderness CenterTiffin Community YMCATuscarawus County YMCAWestbrook Country ClubYMCA of Central Stark County

Other

A.H. Wilson BuildingAlmost Heaven Homemade Ice CreamAmerican Development CompanyAmerimar Enterprises, Inc.Aultman FoundationAultman HospitalBair's PowersportsBAM Healthy CuisineBenders TavernBoggs ChiropracticBolivar Volunteer Fire DepartmentBrewster Fire DepartmentCanton Baptist TempleCanton Palace TheatreCanton TownshipCanton Township FireCapstone Real Estate InvestmentsCarroll County District LibraryChapel Hill Retirement CommunityThe Chapel in AkronChrist Community Chapel in HudsonCity of CantonCity of WoosterCoshocton Port AuthorityDeVille DevelopmentsDeHoff DevelopmentDowntown FordFirst Friends ChurchGastroenterology SpecialistsGoddard SchoolsGrace United Methodist ChurchGreentown United Methodist ChurchHampton InnHeartland Behavior HealthHoly Trinity Greek Orthodox ChurchHoover HouseJackson TownshipLake TownshipThe Lenzy Family InstituteLeopard Town TwirlersLiberty Development CompanyLions Lincoln TheatreLimbauch BuildingsLouisville Public LibraryMassillon Fire DepartmentMassillon Heritage FoundationMassillon MuseumMassillon Public LibraryMeniru Medical OfficesMinerva Champer of CommerceMissionView ChurchNational First Ladies LibraryPerry Township Police DepartmentPetitti Garden CenterThe Pickwick PlaceThe Pines Lakeside TherapyPlain TownshipPlain Township Fire DepartmentPro Football Hall of FameProgressive ChryslerQuonset HutRose Lane Nursing & RehabilitationSARTAScriptShop PharmacySeville-Guilford Township Fire and EMSShady Lawn Nursing & RehabilitationSmithville Fire DepartmentSpring Hill Historic HomeStark County Department of Job & Family ServicesStark County District LibrarySt. Edward HotelSt. Lukes Lutheran HomeSt. Mary's Catholic ChurchSt. Michael the Archangel ParishSt. Michael Lutheran ChurchSt. Stephens Lutheran Martyr ChurchTraditions at Bath Road Nursing HomeTrillium Family SolutionsUnion HospitalWooly Pig Farm BreweryWooster Community Hospital

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