PROJECT  Crook Horner Lofts

LOCATION Baltimore, Maryland, US​

ARCHITECT SM+P Architects

CLIENT B&B Urban / Alan Bell

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM Walter Schamu, Tom Gamper, Mary Weiss, Ariana Grieu, and Adam Tawney

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
CONTRACTOR J. Cole Builders

ENGINEERS
Skarda & Associates, Inc.
KCW Engineering Technologies,Inc.
SRBR Engineers, Inc.
SRBR Engineers, Inc.

PHOTOGRAPHER Kevin Persaud Photography

CONSULTANTS (if applicable)
Acoustical Design Collaborative Ltd.

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  4/2/2024

PROJECT SUMMARY
The Crook Horner Lofts take their name from the original company that owned the six-story building at 301 North Howard Street -- Crook, Horner and Company -- manufacturers of Plumbers and Mill Supplies. The Company chose to make a design statement using the Romanesque Revival Style, popular in the late 19th century. Though the designer is unknown, a skillful use of arched window groupings expresses a clear tripartite hierarchy. Corner towers are architecturally differentiated and emphasized by different muntin patterns of the windows versus those along Saratoga Street. The implication of a battlement common to the Romanesque style with the use of inset masonry panels in the parapet is also a skilled interpretation of the style. Bought by Pollack’s Furniture in 1909, the building anchored the north edge of Baltimore’s historic department store district – which included Hutzler’s Hochschild-Kohn, Stewart’s, and the May Company (Hecht’s).
The adjacent commercial building at 305 N. Howard Street has been consolidated with 301 N. Howard Street. It is a good example of the somewhat rare two bay, enframed window wall design.
The Post-World War II alterations to the first story of each building created a "modern" commercial design aesthetic. Materials such as steel, plate glass, and glazed tile were often combined to modernize the appearance of street-level shops. During rehabilitation, these finishes were removed.
In developing the Crook Horner Lofts, comprised of 15 live-work loft apartments and 2 retail spaces, many significant historical features were retained or reintroduced in compliance with the incentives of Federal, State and Local Historic Tax Credits.
A new storefront system emphasizing visual transparency into the commercial spaces and clearly defined entries into all three new commercial and residential establishments were added. A wood cornice with flanking pilasters replicating existing details on the Saratoga Street elevation, and corroborated by photographic evidence, frames the new storefronts at 305 N. Howard Street. A painted metal canopy provides shelter and sense of entrance for the commercial space and the loft lobby. At 305 North Howard, the enframed window system was restored and, in both buildings, the windows are sympathetically replaced with new units replicating the profiles of all architectural details. The new storefronts and all windows are compliant with the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
Other important historic details that were retained, restored or replicated: the decorative cast iron columns on the first and second floor at 301 N. Howard Street, ornate tin ceilings in both buildings, “old growth” fir floors at 301 N. Howard Street, the historic main stair and its railing system, matching trim and baseboard details throughout, and the hardware and panels of the old fire doors. The historic masonry was repaired, repointed and cleaned. Crowning the building is a “Crook Horner Lofts” painted sign band on each elevation – echoing a similar design from the building’s early 20th century past.

JURY COMMENTS (if applicable)

IMAGES – CAPTIONS & CREDITS

Image 1  Completed historic preservation of exterior. Photographer: Kevin Persaud
Image 2  Existing interior of the historic Crook Horner building.
Image 3  Completed historic preservation of typical loft unit. Photographer: Kevin Persaud
Image 4  Completed west elevation along Howard Street. Photographer: Kevin Persaud
Image 5  Entry lobby at Crook Horner Lofts. Photographer: Kevin Persaud
Image 6  Typical loft unit kitchen. Photographer: Kevin Persaud
Image 7  Typical loft unit bedroom. Photographer: Kevin Persaud
Image 8 

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project PDF