Project Description
Built in 1888 by Anton Simon, the aptly named Simons Livery Barn once stabled horses for visitors to the Carver County court house for trials and other county business. Originally, the barn had a central isle flanked with bays on each side and with a lofted area for hay and grain storage. Almost a century later, the building housed a small a candy factory before the building was carved into a hodge-podge array of offices in the late 1980’s. By the time Neil and Sarah Amundson purchased the property in 2014, the roof was structurally unsound and the interior was in need of a complete gutting and renovation. The four brick walls and their stone foundation are all that remain of the original structure. The exterior of the building retains several significant architectural features fabricated from locally produced brick including a corbelled cornice, segmentally arched hoods above the windows and doors a semi-circular roof comb. First called "Chaska brick" in an 1894 Chaska Herald article, this distinctive brick is known for its unique "creamy" color, high clay content, and quality. Chaska brick remains closely tied to the history of the city it came from. Accordingly, the Simons Livery is on the National Historic Registry. Restoration of this historic structure was paramount to our clients’ desires and the renovation work is remarkably sensitive to the architectural character of the historic context of a building that would have been regarded as “utilitarian” in its day. It is an excellent example in all respects. Even the small high windows on the north elevation are reflective of the pattern of livestock stalls associated with the building’s historic usage. The U+B team went through several design iterations for the space, landed on a plan described as a “ship in the bottle.” The historic feel of the exterior belies the contemporary interior. In the spirit of the new owners, our design accentuates the iconic form of the structure while modernizing the interior. By lofting the front and back ends of the two-story space, the updated interior allows the occupants to appreciate the historic form and materials of the building’s unique shell while maintaining the integrity of the structure. Open space, a significant kitchen and contemporary detailing present a fresh interior that openly embraces the historic shell. While incorporating a color palette, textures, and materials that hint at its rustic past, the clean lines, metal, and glass of the building’s new interior are well suited to today’s demand for modern amenities. The building boasts hydronic in-floor radiant heat throughout that allows the polished concrete to keep bare feet warm and comfortable on cold days. Purchased for use as an event and presentation space. The building required sensitive interventions that would bring the space into 21st century standards. Our team was able to deliver a welcoming facility that has been embraced by the community and supports of our clients’ needs for an engaging entertainment and studio venue. “We hang out here. We’re still a little gaga,” said owner Sarah Amundson of the completed project. “It’s calming and peaceful.”