Publication Date: 10-12-2017
For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Jeanne Hilt
Director of Marketing
Louisville Downtown Partnership
(502) 614-4122 (Office)
LOUISVILLE, KY (OCT. 11, 2017) – The Louisville Downtown Partnership (LDP) announced the recipients of the 2017 Cornerstone Awards at their annual celebration of Downtown development on Wednesday, Oct. 11th at The Brown Hotel rooftop garden event space. The Cornerstone Awards were given to 13 significant Downtown projects completed in 2016, which represents nearly $100 million invested in Downtown Louisville. In addition, the prestigious S. Russell Smith, Jr. Awards of Excellence were presented.
“We are honoring 13 significant development projects that range from housing, university buildings, a hotel, and even this beautiful rooftop addition to the historic Brown Hotel,” said Rebecca Matheny, LDP’s Executive Director. “There is no doubt Downtown Louisville is experiencing an exciting period of growth in our Central Business District. It is important to take a moment to recognize these significant projects and the forward-thinking investment that has taken place,” she added.
The S. Russell Smith, Jr. Award of Excellence is named in honor of Russell Smith, Jr. who was a long-time board member and chairman of the Business Improvement District (BID) which, along with the Louisville Downtown Development Corporation, now comprise LDP. This year’s private-sector winner is Louis Straub, II, President of Independence Bank. A lifelong Louisville resident, Louis has been an active leader in Downtown development for several decades. He has served as chair of the BID, the Downtown Housing Fund, and Operation Brightside. Spearheading Downtown’s beautification program, he launched many new initiatives, including the popular flower pot program. In the Greater Louisville community, Louis has also served in numerous leadership capacities. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member for the University of Louisville and Jefferson Community and Technical College. In his career as a banker, he financed many well-known Downtown public projects and entities such as the Muhammad Ali Center, Frazier History Museum, the Kentucky International Convention Center, the Louisville Water Company, and the Metropolitan Sewer District.
Pat Johnson, Traffic Engineering Manager with Louisville Metro Public Works & Assets is the recipient of the award for the public sector. A lifelong Louisvillian, Johnson started working for the City of Louisville in 1988 and worked his way up to become Manager of Traffic Engineering just after merger in 2003. He was instrumental in a number of citywide traffic signal projects from 1996 to 2002, and facilitated numerous Downtown development and re-development projects. He was lead traffic engineer on major Downtown projects like Waterfront Park, Witherspoon Street, and the KFC YUM! Center. According to Matheny, “Pat has had a profound role in shaping Metro’s complete streets approach, smart city initiatives, and has been a strong advocate for the strategic conversion to two-way streets.”
LDP’S mission is to aid in facilitation and strengthening of commerce, provide maintenance assistance, beautify and enhance streetscapes, improve security and safety, and stimulate high-quality development and vitality in Louisville’s Downtown. LDP believes the economic engine of any great city starts with a strong Downtown.
For more information, go to: louisvilledowntown.org. LDP can be contacted at 556 S. Fourth Street; Louisville, KY 40202 (502)584-6000.
2017 Cornerstone Awards
(Projects investing $1 million or more that were completed over previous year – construction costs only)
Louisville Metro Housing Authority for the $8.4 million adaptive reuse and expansion of 760 South Hancock, a three-story, 55,160 sq. ft. building for 32 senior and disabled apartments.
Location: 310 S. Hancock St.
Lead Architect: Luckett & Associates
Angel’s Envy for the $27 million renovation of the former Vermont American Building to create the Angel’s Envy Distillery, a two-story 90,000 sq. ft. distillery.
Location: 500 W. Main St.
Lead Architect: Joseph & Joseph Architects
The Brown Hotel for the $1 million addition of a rooftop event venue, which includes a 4,000 square-foot garden and green roof.
Location: 335 W. Broadway
Lead Architect: Joseph & Joseph Architects
Taurus Capital Management LLC for the $1.12 million adaptive reuse of The Fincastle Building. The six-story, 50,550 sq. ft. former office building includes 40 apartments, office, and retail space.
Location: 305 W. Broadway
Lead Architect: Construction Management Consultants
Louisville Glassworks Hotel Partners for the construction of an $18.5 million, Holiday Inn Express & Suites. The eight-story project consists of 145 rooms.
Location: 800 W. Market St.
Lead Architect: Butler, Rosenbury & Partners
LHR Partners Ltd for the $14 million renovation of the Hyatt Regency Louisville. The project included 393 upgraded guest rooms.
Location: 311 S. Fourth St.
General Contractor: Koetter Construction, Inc.
Jefferson Community and Technical College for the $2.1 million restoration of the JCTC Seminary Courtyard, a 35,800 square-foot green space that was returned to the original Seminary’s plan. The project also included waterproofing the building’s foundation.
Location: 109 E. Broadway
Lead Architect: EOP Architects
The University of Louisville Real Estate Foundation and NTS Development Company for the construction of a $9.6 million, six-story parking garage containing 835 spaces. Additionally, the University of Louisville’s J.D. Nichols Campus for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Parking Garage used innovative LED lighting in addition to other iconic architectural features.
Location: 220 S. Preston St.
Lead Architect: Tucker Booker Donhoff Partners
KentuckyOne Health for the $2.9 million expansion and renovation of the Jewish Hospital Emergency Department (a part of KentuckyOne Health). The 5,000 sq. ft. expansion includes a larger registration area, 2-room trauma bay, five-room critical decision area, and four additional patient rooms.
Location: 200 Abraham Flexner Way
Lead Architect: Arrasmith, Judd, Rapp, Chovan – Architects
KMAC Museum for the $3 million renovation of a four-story, 27,000 sq. ft. historic building to make the facility more efficient as a 21st century art institution and community space. The project also includes a new café.
Location: 715 W. Main St.
Lead Architect: Christoff:Finio Architects
NitNeil Partners for the $3.4 million adaptive reuse of the historic Kurfees Paint Building into Extra Space Storage—a state-of-the-art, climate controlled self-storage facility with covered loading bays and modern leasing office.
Location: 201 E. Market St.
Lead Architect: Edward Eiche
St. Francis School, Inc. for the $1.95 million expansion of the Downtown Campus featuring a new student activity center, a large multi-purpose room (“The Space for Thought”), a MakerSpace, a conference room, administrative offices and a new entrance/lobby at the historic main entrance.
Location: 233 W. Broadway
Lead Architect: Lake-Flato Architects
EDL Holdings LLC for the $3.5 million adaptive reuse of a four-story, 29,240 sq. ft. building into the Vu Guesthouse, a 34-room boutique-style hotel, upscale spa and lobby bar. This project is part of a larger entertainment campus.
Location: 822 S. Floyd St.
Lead Architect: Ben Palmerball Architects