Adaptive Reuse & Historic Restoration
Client: Northern Kentucky African American Heritage Task Force State of Kentucky
Location: Newport, Kentucky

Project:
Conducted a feasibility study to determine the most feasible plan for restoration of the facility. The second task assignment was to investigate probable options for future public and private uses under the banner of a local museum/cultural center. After extensive meetings and design analysis, the project evolved into an unshakable duality. The exterior spaces, new courtyard and monument areas, plus the complete first floor would be for public use while the second level would be for private use by the Building's Owners. This dictated a need to create sensitive separation of public and private functioning.

Details:
Southgate School Building was historically the Public School System's only segregated and sited Elementary School for many of Northern Kentucky African-American students. Once desegregation became the law of the land in 1955, it was closed and purchased by the Newport Lodge 120 Masons. The building nonetheless had suffered serious deferred maintenance and needed an overall plan developed for its restoration, which in concert with its historical significant being celebrated and magnified, would return Southgate School to its once vital role as a cultural icon in the life of Northern Kentuckians.

Maximum flexibility of the public space was achieved through several innovation design concepts; for example, the large meeting room, with its "rotating wall" can be arranged to set-up in at least four distinct configurations. ADA compliance is creativity accomplished by a kit of parts ramp/entrance setup, despite site limitations.

A new monument to the importance of Southgate School will be flanked by two alumni "named walls" to be utilized by the Alumni organization to sell name spaces as part of a necessary fund raising activities; the City of Newport, Northern Kentucky African-American Heritage Task Force and the State of Kentucky Historic Preservation Commission, as well as the African-American Commission were all committed partners for this very important project.