DR. JOHANNES VIRKS BUILDING RENOVATION

State of Rhode Island, Cranston RI

Role
Architect
Programming
Space Planner
Interior Designer
Construction Administration

Type of Construction
Renovation

Size
57,200 SF

General Scope of Project
In 2014, n|e|m|d architects, inc. was selected by the State of Rhode Island’s Department of Administration to provide design and construction services for the renewal of the historic Dr. Johannes Virks Building in Cranston, RI. Built in 1936, the 4-story red brick building features a large hip roof, gabled pavilions, and a cast stone Corinthian portico with a monumental semi-circular stone stairway.  After 78 years of continuous use as a hospital, it is now restored, modernized, and converted into an office building for use by the State’s Department of Health and Human Services.

The Virks Building renovation project was divided into phases. In Phase I, the building’s slate roof was replaced, the front stairs were rebuilt, the exterior brickwork and cast stone elements were cleaned and repointed, and the original doors and windows were replicated with energy-efficient copies.  In addition, the interior of the building was demolished and all hazardous materials removed.  Phase II involved the complete renovation of the building’s interior, with the upgrading of all of the building’s systems (heating, plumbing, electrical, telecom, etc.) and the replacement of all of the interior walls, floors, ceilings, and finishes. On the building’s exterior, stairs, landings, sidewalks, and patio were rebuilt and the site attractively re-landscaped.

The Virks Building provides the State with about 14,300 square feet of tenant space on each of its four main floors (57,200 square feet total) with a 12,300 square foot basement/crawlspace and an 11,000 square foot attic. The building has been restored to its historic beauty while creating an office building that functions effectively in the Twenty-First Century.