Architecture
architecture is community art.
We have broad expertise with commercial, municipal, residential and mixed-use buildings. As specialists in adaptive re-use, we enjoy the challenge of renovating existing buildings into new purposes. At the same time, new construction provides the opportunity for additional creativity and a clean slate. We work with owners to achieve their vision, incorporate important design details that will stand the test of time, and aim for practical budgeting that ensures a project’s success.
related projects
Garrison School Lofts
Located in Rockford’s historic Signal Hill neighborhood, the Garrison School Lofts & Townhomes are a shining example of how historic preservation and new construction can be stitched together within a traditional neighborhood fabric.
Nicholas Conservatory
The Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens is situated along the banks of the Rock River in Sinnissippi Gardens. The Conservatory is the third largest in Illinois, and its highest point stands 52 feet tall to accommodate the unique exotic plants and trees that it houses year-long. It acts as a beacon and landmark along the river, providing a venue for several events throughout the year.
Wahl Clipper Corporate Headquarters
Wahl Clipper Corporation is a world leader in professional and home grooming devices. Founded in Sterling, Illinois over one hundred years ago, the company wanted to develop a new corporate headquarters building that could better respond to an increasing global demand for its products.
Prairie Street Brewhouse
Located on the east bank of the Rock River, the Prairie Street Brewhouse has become synonymous with the revitalization of downtown Rockford. Originally the home of the Peacock Brewery, this landmark building is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the largest historic preservation projects in the region.
Metropolitan Hall Lofts
The history of Metropolitan Hall is intertwined with the history of Rockford. Built in 1856, this pre-Civil War building was the largest entertainment venue of its time and was host to a variety of speakers including Frederick Douglass and Herman Melville.
Woodfire Brick Oven Pizza
Woodfire Brick Oven Pizza gained popularity with their mobile brick pizza oven, stationing it outside of breweries and within the Rockford City Market.
The Standard
Originally built in 1916, 214 East State Street is Rockford’s first non-combustible structure and hosts impressive concrete structural columns that add to the grandeur of the space.
Company 251
Company 251 is a 20,000 square foot event space imbued with industrial charm and modern luxury. Formerly the home of the International Harvester Manufacturing Company, this 1908 industrial building in Aurora’s Middle Avenue Historic District retains a raw and historic character with ghost lines of the original building’s use.
Northern Illinois Hospice
Northern Illinois Hospice has delivered compassionate end-of-life care in the Rockford, Illinois region for over 40 years. The organization’s continued growth in services required an expanded facility to accommodate its administrative, clinical, and therapeutic services.
Hart Interim Library
The Rockford Public Library embarked on a challenging project: Repurpose a former department store turned detention center into an interim library while their main library site is being remediated of contaminated soil and readied for new construction.
Kennay Farms Distilling
Located on the iconic Lincoln Highway in downtown Rochelle, Illinois, Kennay Farms Distilling is an 8,500 square foot distillery and event facility that makes the most out of former theater space.
Sterling Riverfront
The Lawrence Brothers and Stanley-National complexes are former manufacturing buildings that have shaped the southern gateway to Sterling, Illinois for over 100 years. The success of each enterprise was manifested in the sheer size of their buildings; put together, the complexes have over 688,000 square feet of space.
Keefer Hotel
The historic Keefer Hotel was a social center for Hillsdale and many public and private functions were held there after its construction in 1864. Several well-known guests graced the halls of the hotel including Annie Oakley, John Ringling, and “Buffalo Bill” Cody. To date, the building serves as one of the most historically intact buildings Studio GWA has had the pleasure to work on.
Rockford Public Library
The main branch of the Rockford Public Library has been located along the banks of the Rock River since 1902. Prior to the library’s construction the property was used as a gasification site. In order to remediate the site, the existing 88,000 SF structure needed to be removed, which entailed an extensive analysis of current and future needs as well as possible temporary and new locations for the main library.
Haute Bridal Official
With specialized displays for high-end gowns, a runway space for showings, and a spa & salon beauty room, the transformation of this vacant storefront into a couture boutique has helped bring life to the continued development of the downtown Beloit region.
Lux Cuts
What once housed an acoustical dropped ceiling, wood and molding wrapped columns, dated flooring, and prefabricated wall panels is now an industrial and vintage-styled barber shop in the heart of downtown Beloit.