Historical

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Whitefish Depot

1990s // Whitefish, MT

In the mid Nineties, Ken Williams played a critical role saving Whitefish’s historic Railroad Depot. Developed on two phases. Williams’ discreet involvement dealt with Amtrak and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Road. The primary client was the Stumptown Historical Society. Much of his work involved the economics of gifting a building to a 501 c3 organization, developing a construction funding pool from local financial institutions, participation in the successful community fundraising program, and design and Construction drawings to provide modern office space for the railroad. The multi million dollar renovation led to the creation of the Whitefish Community Foundation. This lead to the Foundation’s  downtown development of Depot Park, The Whitefish Performing Arts Center, new municipal Library and The Wave, Whitefish’s community recreation center. Ken Williams, Architect  participated in the project negotiations, logistics, then provided Design and Construction Drawings for both phases, John Constenius, Architect provided architectural specifications, construction administration and observation services.

Central School

date // Kalispell, MT

To save Northwest Montana’s deteriorating, abandoned Central School, Ken Williams provided the City with the Feasibility Study, then participated in the public relations process to successfully fund its’ eventual renovation. Significant elements in the Feasibility Study included:

  • structural and seismic analysis of the hundred year old building, 
  • investigation of recent seismic events and identification of successful seismic strategies for historic structures,
  • Historical research & documentation, 
  • Architectural survey,
  • An accurate, comprehensive Quantity Survey

Scientific analysis included compressive structural analysis of locally manufactured masonry and chemical analysis of original mortar. The existing structure was then modelled and tested under seismic duress, determining structural integrities & weaknesses.

Athabasca Hall

1976, 2021 // University of Alberta

Renovation of the first permanent building on the University of Alberta’s campus. Originally started in1914, completed in 1917, this project incorporated a Design/Build approach, wherein five construction companies were interviewed. The successful contractor, Poole Construction, acted as a team member. Construction cost analysis played a critical role in the significant demolition and structural approach. The existing wood internal structures were removed, and replaced by a modern structural steel frame, knitting the three and one half story brick exterior into a sound contemporary building. This approach allowed the University to provide modern office space for roughly one third the cost of new construction, while maintaining the integrity of the original University Quad. Athabasca Hall’s successful renovation encouraged the University of Alberta to renovate its’ sister buildings, Pembina and Assiniboine Halls. 

Heritage Canada awarded the University’s team the 1979 Gabrielle Legeré Medal, Canada’s highest historic architecture award. 

( ken williams, while with Bittorf Holland Christiansen Architects , Edmonton, Alberta, Canada )

Liberal Arts Building

1978, 2021 // University of Alberta

Building on the success of Athabasca Hall, the 1917 teaching building on the University of Alberta’s campus was transformed in 1978. The Liberal Arts Building served as the temporary provincial legislative building in the late teens. Work melded the University’s Colleges of Art, Languages and Comparative Literature under one roof. Developed under a ‘Design/Build’ approach, much of the early architectural work included the publication study of costs, history, design for the University to secure provincial funding. 

Heritage Canada awarded the University’s team the 1982 Gabrielle Legeré Medal, Canada’s highest historic architecture award. 

( ken williams was the Project Architect, while with Bouey, Bouey and Rutledge Architects , Edmonton, Alberta, Canada )

Pastime Bar

1989 // Kalispell, MT

Two phase renovation of Kalispell’s Historic Pastime Bar. The renovation met and exceeded the Internal Revenue’s stringent historic renovation standards, providing significant financial opportunities for the Owner. Exterior rehabilitation was based on historic documentation. Much of the architectural survey and research work lead to the subsequent National Trust’s Historic Building Listing. The project received financial Tax Increment Funding as part of Owner’s construction cost strategy. The Pastime Bar Renovation received the regional 1991 Flathead Arts Council Award for Architecture.

Cooper-Bessemer Building

1978 // Edmonton, Alberta

Spatial planning and conversion of an industrial shop space into contemporary office spaces for an engineering firm and landscape architectural practice. The interior spaces featured heavy post & beam exposed structures, with affordable awning structures emphasizing new entrances while providing solar control. With w Brian Edwards MRAIC 

Belton Depot

West Glacier, MT

$90,000 renovation, converting the original Depot Building in West Glacier into the headquarters of the Glacier Natural History Association (GNHA.) Ken’s work included the successful negotiation to transition the Depot from Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s ownership to the non-profit co-operative association, and alteration to office, sales and depository spaces.