Scope
Renovation + Preservation
Completion
2015
Size
160,000 sf
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.
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
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.
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.
Moving these offices from multiple locations to one building provides our residents with a more convenient and streamlined operation.
Russ Pry, County Executive
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