Webb Building - Table of Contents

March 2007 Interior Rehabilitation (Adaptive Reuse)
Webb Building
90-94 Pearl Street, Buffalo, NY

Developer:

Signature Development Co. (Rocco Termini)

Rehabilitation architect:

Carmina Wood Morris

Adaptive reuse:

Nursery, loft apts.

Commercial building name:

Webb Lofts

Located:

Joseph Ellicott Historic District

Much of the roof and floors had collapsed by the time of purchase in late 2006. Floors on each story had to be constructed before work could be done on the roof which also had collapsed. The flooring in the photos is new. At a later stage, cement will be poured over the wood. A new roof was scheduled to be installed during the following week.

Additional text Beneath illustrations


Click on illustrations for larger size -- and additional information

Looking into the basement from the first floor


New and original joists in the upper part of the photo.

A Burke Llc worker shovels debris into the outside chute

Stair remains. There are no staircases at this stage of restoration.

Looking onto the basement from the first floor.
The flooring is new.

Salvaged floor and joists

New flooring laid on original, salvaged floor joists

New floor joists

Salvaged bricks to be reused.

Form used to repair arches

Repaired arch.

Repaired arch.

The beginning of a new wall.

Fourth floor boarded up window at left; partially boarded on right

Fourth floor boarded up windows.

Roof to be built the following week.

Missing roof. There are no staircases at this stage of restoration.

Missing roof

Missing roof. Note old and new joists.

Text reprinted from the
National Park Service Historic Preservation Certification Application
By Martin Wachadlo and Dr. Francis R. Kowsky

The interior is composed of nearly identical floors of open plan. The ground floor is representative of all of the others, with the exception of the store fronts. A brick partition wall divides each floor laterally into southern and northern halves.  Arches were built into this partition wall to allow communication between the southern and northern sections. Each floor of both halves of the interior is constructed of wood.

Due chiefly to the infiltration of the elements through a large hole in the roof, all of the floors are in a seriously deteriorated condition. Each of the floors is supported by the brick partition wall, the parallel rows of slender cast iron columns positioned midway between the partition wall and the outer load bearing walls, and the outer walls themselves.


Special thanks to owner and developer Rocco Termini for his cooperation

Photos and their arrangement © 2007 Chuck LaChiusa
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