A tight site and a desire to insert the garage entrance on the least obvious face and below grade meant squeezing it below a first floor kitchen.

Most difficult was removal of the majority of a masonry wall along the west façade. The wall to be removed was a critical shear wall.

In order to squeeze the garage under the kitchen, the installation required restructuring the first floor to less than 4 inches thick to obtain the required clearances and a new entry ramp from the west.

To address the removal of the critical shear wall, we developed a structural steel moment frame and grade beam which compensated for removal of the shear wall making the garage feasible.

Other successful interventions included underpinning the settling foundations of the existing historic façade at three faces and supporting a new roof top deck.

The resulting garage was a tasteful renovation of a landmark structure in keeping with its original identity. The structural improvements were hidden within the historic fabric. By rehabilitating the façade and bringing new amenities to the residence, we ensured the structure would be ready for its next century of life and beyond.