Almost 100 years old, the three-story Baker Building in downtown Muscatine, Iowa, had been a healthcare facility, then an auto parts
store before becoming the headquarters of furniture manufacturer HNI Corporation. HNI felt a civic responsibility to help rejuvenate the downtown and wanted to take advantage of the building’s dramatic Mississippi River views. In 2004, work began on the adaptive re-use of the building with a complete gut and remodel, which included a new stair addition. Many materials, such as the hardwood floors and floor joists, were re-used. The project achieved LEED Silver.

Challenges and Solutions

• Limited floor-to-floor space made it very difficult to position the ductwork without interfering with the architectural details. In some areas, the ductwork became an interior design element, requiring special consideration for vibration and noise control.
• Energy modeling shows the building’s high-efficiency HVAC and lighting exceed ASHRAE 90.1’s conservation standards.
• Renovating a century-old building required careful structural analysis
  of all materials to uncover the “unknowns.” Field analysis included demolition of small wall spaces to verify composition and to provide the basis for new design plans.