CLEVELAND, OH – For GlobeSt.com's 2019 ADAPT awards, we reviewed countless projects across the country to recognize outstanding efforts in adaptive reuse. One project stood out among the rest for its strategic planning and execution throughout the project. The winner of excellence in hazardous material removal at a commercial project is the Empire Improvement Building in Cleveland, OH. We will be honoring the project at our awards ceremony in Baltimore on September 16^th. The Empire Improvement Building was constructed in 1913 as a clothing warehouse and retail outlet, and was a prominent establishment in the Superior Avenue Garment District of Cleveland. In 1919, two stories were added to the original three-story building. Historically, the building was a sewing factory in the heart of Downtown Cleveland's Garment District, the second largest Garment District after New York. Converting a historic industrial building into class A office space in the edge of downtown Cleveland was an economic risk. An extensive rehabilitation completed last year by GBX transformed the historic building into a stunning, state-of-the-art office space, which is now home to GBX's new headquarters. Featuring exposed interior brick walls and high ceilings, the restoration maintains the historic integrity of the building while offering a contemporary style with large windows, glass doors, and hand-painted murals. The rehabilitation was made possible using federal and state historic tax credits, a Historic Preservation Easement, and other incentives. "We took particular interest in protecting the historic integrity of the exterior of the building, while maximizing interior functionality and adapting the interior of the building to class A office use," says GBX. In order to preserve the historic facade and return the building to its original state, all windows were replaced on the building. Damaged portions of the parapet and facade were also carefully rebuilt with matching brick. In addition, the interior wood structure was used and emphasized in the design, allowing for a full appreciation of the construction style of the building's original period. Sustainable attributes were also used in the redevelopment of the Empire Improvement Building. Ample use of glass in the interior office space to maintain natural light. The placement of offices were also in the interior rather than along the window perimeter, maintaining interior wall dividers well below the ceiling height. The three-story interior atrium and the new exterior windows use UV glass. In addition, the building uses Energy Star certified-mechanicals, including HVAC systems and water flow preventers. Finally, new plumbing and electrical, meeting current day building standards, were installed. GBX Group saw a neighborhood comprised of early 1900s industrial historic buildings that offered a great opportunity for rehabilitation and community rebuilding. The building was acquired in December 2015, but financing didn't close until June 2017.