Monday, January 05, 2015YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Paul Hagman’s favorite spot in Youngstown is Central Square. As he stands there, the owner of RBF CoLab Architecture and Design can see the history of the city and the intricate details of the landmark buildings downtown.
On the northeastern corner is the Stambaugh Building, built in the neo-classical style in 1907 with a bright white brick exterior. That is the structure Dominic C. Marchionda and NYO Property Group is converting to the first hotel in the downtown in five decades.
West on Federal Street is the Wells Building, another historic structure that Kevin Willis, a project architect at Strollo Architects, is working to restore.
Hagman, Marchionda and Willis, all 25 Under 35 honorees, share a passion for downtown and all that was and can be.
Hagman points to Realty Tower on East Federal, constructed in 1924 with terra cotta masonry in its facade.
He turns his gaze west to F.N.B. Tower, built as the Metropolitan Savings and Loan Building. It was completed in 1929 in the art deco style synonymous with the Roaring ’20s and the optimism that marked that boom-and-bust decade.
“The experience of standing on Central Square surrounded by so many examples of world-class buildings is amazing,” Hagman says. “Observing the different styles and the different periods is special, especially with them all so close.”
One of Hagman’s first projects as an architect was the John R. Davis building, 217 W. Federal St., which sat empty more than 20 years before it was reopened in 2008 as a photography studio and offices for Ronald Cornell Faniro Architects. In its heyday, the building housed a high-fashion store for women. Today the first floor houses Blackheart Tattoo Studio.
When he works on the older buildings, Hagman says he uses adaptive restoration. He doesn’t try to bring the building back to its original state. He keeps as much of the original work as feasible while ensuring the building is usable for today’s needs.
The economic impact of good architecture, Hagman says, is visible. “They bring life and interest, which encourages more street activity.”
Beyond the financial impact, a well-designed building can improve the quality of life, says Willis.
“Even if you aren’t going into the space and using it, it’s still, from a street view, improving the city. To improve the quality of life of someone who uses the building, for work, for entertainment or for school, is rewarding to us and them,” Willis says.
Designing for a positive influence, both in visual appeal and use, begins by holding conversations, all agree. The design of a building comes down to a back-and-forth between owner and architect.
“After you start sketching, you start defining areas for the functionality of the building. You go through that process over and over and over again with the client and get their feedback until everybody’s happy,” Willis says.
Marchionda, director of operations for NYO Property Group, has often been on the other side of the conversation. In working with architects, NYO has to consider not only the architect’s imagination, but what benefits the downtown.
“Maybe the city needs a certain tenant because of the tax revenue. You need to make sure you’re not going in with a development plan and popping in whatever you can because it’ll make money,” Marchionda says. “We could easily do that. But that’s not sustainable. It’s about being delicate, engaging leadership and making sure everyone’s vision lines up.”
Over the summer, the Kress Building, which sat empty since 2000, was razed by the city and converted to parking space. The Paramount Theatre, torn down in 2013, remains a parking lot. When buildings come down, the three nominees agree, it’s important that what replaces them fits a need and that the parking lots are short-lived.
Filling in the dead zones where demolition occurred should lead to a better image for downtown, Marchionda adds.
“There’s still holes where it’s like two front teeth got knocked out. We need to light it up, make it feel safer and an enjoyable walk,” he says.
While Willis says he’s willing to work in almost any style – design cues from various styles can be adapted and updated to new purposes, he explains – Hagman prefers that new buildings stick to the traditional styles that identify downtown Youngstown.
“Big, flashy Frank Gehry buildings with fluid forms are beautiful as sculptures but they separate themselves from the city. They become difficult to make sustainable because there’s no room for shops or to be part of a larger context,” Hagman says.
Large, shiny, modern buildings, he continues, tend to look manufactured and lack the details that many find appealing. What Hagman wants is to imbue buildings with a handmade feel.
“There is a certain level of delight in things that are handcrafted or look like they are. The traditional styles are things I’m intrigued by,” Hagman says. “Not that they can’t be updated, but there are things that have been done for hundreds of years and it’s silly to change them at this point.”
Looking back at the history of downtown Youngstown, when the city’s landmark structures were under construction and the streets were filled with people going from store to store, it’s easy to see why Hagman wants to stick with those styles. They recall a better time in Youngstown history, something the architectural community wants to recapture.
But, Marchionda notes, change is underway. Restaurants and entertainment have reopened in the downtown and nightlife, especially on weekends, makes it tough to find parking close by.
“We love bringing back buildings so that downtown can look like it did in the 1940s and ’50s’ and ’60s. But some of these buildings weren’t meant to last 100 years. Things happened and people left,” Marchionda says. “Downtown will never be like it once was. But we can have a smaller version.”
Pictured: Kevin Willis, a project architect at Strollo Architects, is working on his company’s renovation of the Wells Building.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The Business Journal has published our annual "25 Under 35" extra edition, which contains stories and biographical sketches about the honorees. CLICK HERE to order a copy of this special publication.
Copyright 2015 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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