Awards honor restoration of historic buildings

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning Valley Historical Society has announced the winners of the 2016 Historic Preservation Awards.

The awards honor those who preserve historic buildings, sites and districts. The winners will be honored June 21 at the Tyler Mahoning Valley History Center, 325 W. Federal St. For reservations, call 330-743-2589.

The winners are the Technology Belt Energy Innovation Center in Warren and the Wells Building and the Wick Tower in Youngstown.

The Tech Belt center is a business incubator in the historic 1924 Kresge Building in downtown Warren. The team designed spaces that serve the high-technology needs of the occupants, while protecting the historic character of the building. The project designer was Bruce W. Sekanick, Philips|Sekanick Architects Inc.

The Wells Building in downtown Youngstown was constructed between 1915 and 1917 and has been listed on the National Register since 1986. The building had been vacant and badly deteriorated. The efforts of the Youngstown Area Community Improvement Corporation and Strollo Architects saved it from demolition. The restoration project includes new first-floor office space for Strollo Architects and four new apartment units on each of the three floors above. The project designer was Strollo Architects.

The 13-story Wick Tower in downtown Youngstown was constructed from 1906-10. In 2015, the tower was rehabilitated in a project that converted it to residential uses. Many historic details on the exterior facade remained, although extensive restoration of the ornate terra cotta cornice was required. The building is owned by NYO Property Group; project designer was City Architecture.