The Hicor Group, a minority certified (MBE) Contractor based in St. Louis, has moved its headquarters into the former Bronson Residence, a 132-year-old Late Victorian home listed on the National Historic Register at 3201 Washington Avenue, after completing an extensive $1.1 million historic renovation. The renovation began in April 2016 after the building had been left in a state of disrepair for many years and included significant interior and exterior upgrades.
The focus of the project centered around the interior finishes of the building. Special attention was paid to repairing the original plaster moldings on the ceilings and walls along with meticulously preserving and restoring the vast amount of original millwork and casework throughout the building. Utilizing their recently acquired millwork reproduction capabilities, the Hicor Group was able to recreate a considerable amount of historically accurate wood windows for the project.
“The biggest challenge was creating an updated commercial office space while maintaining the historical accuracy of the building,” said Andrew Stafford, President of the Hicor Group. New mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems were also an important aspect of the project to convert the former residential building into a functional commercial space.
“We do have a vast amount of experience throughout our organization when it comes to historic restoration work. This project created the opportunity for us to showcase our capabilities while at the same time meeting our need for growth and giving us a distinct facility to house our corporate offices,” said Stafford. “The uniqueness of this space has created an energetic and creative environment for us to work in and enjoy.”
Three levels of the interior have been converted into commercial offices. The back yard of the house, once a historically significant Japanese garden, has been converted into an outdoor meeting and event space with lighting, décor and amenities suitable for small to medium size gatherings.
The Washington Avenue property was redeveloped by Acree-Kelley LLC, which bought the house in 2014. The property is located next to the former Central States Life Insurance Building, now known as the Barnett on Washington, at 3207 Washington. Drew Acree and Jeff Kelley of Acree-Kelley LLC are also co-founders of Chameleon Integrated Services and managing partners of The Hicor Group. Chameleon provides Information Technology support services to agencies and organizations worldwide.
The Hicor Group provides carpentry, concrete, and general contracting services to multiple facets of the construction market here in St Louis and throughout Missouri. Founded in 2014, the company is a MBE and an SBA-certified Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB). Stafford, a ten-year veteran construction industry, is President. For more information on The Hicor Group, visit www.thehicorgroup.com.
Founded in 2003, Chameleon is a minority and SBA-certified Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB).
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