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Past Projects

Montgomery County Courthouse Restoration
Wright-Stop Plaza
Ludlow Building
Wurlitzer Building
Hauer Music
The Livery
The Dayton Miami Valley Entrepreneur Center
Ohio Scenic Byways Interpretive Center-Museum
Fairhaven Church
Ludlow Place

Montgomery County Courthouse Restoration

1851 Building

This is a gem of a project that saw us partner with Schooley-Caldwell Associates from Columbus in the restoration of this 1851 historic courthouse.

It has been called one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the nation.

Montgomery County has returned this wonderful building to active public use as a special events center.

The restoration carefully restored the all-stone exterior and faithfully replicated the interior details of this community icon.

Stone floors, faux painting, and glazed occuli restore this interior to its original grandeur and create not only a functional special-events center, but a museum-quality space that marks our history with dignity.

Wright Stop Plaza - Urban mixed-use

This project involved renovation of the 13-story, 60,000 square foot historic Conover Building located at 4 South Main Street, in the heart of downtown Dayton.

A 25,000 square foot addition houses offices, a retail, arcade and a new downtown transit hub, while the Conover Building will serve as administrative offices for the Miami Valley Regional Transit Authority.

The addition was designed to reuse two salvaged historic facades and feature them as compatible streetscapes adjacent to the Conover Building.

Wright Stop Renovation Downtown Dayton Ohio The Conover Building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated landmark structure in the City of Dayton. All work complies with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

Special design issues include:

addition of a second stairway
preservation of significant interior architectural features
integration of new HVAC systems
designing to provide ADA accessible spaces
replication of the buildings historic entry and lobby
exterior restoration of the ornate brick, terra cotta and ornamental sheet metal facade.

The passenger station addition provides a compatible contemporary interior space within the reconstructed shell of historic stone and terra cotta facades.

The Dayton preservation community preserved the facades as salvage, and this project completes the nearly 20-year task of preserving these wonderful ornate facades as pieces of Dayton’s heritage.

In 2003, the project received both an Honor Award from Preservation Dayton and Best New Development Project from the Heritage Ohio and Downtown Ohio, Inc.

Original Construction - 1900
Renovation - 2002
Cost - $ 11 million

Ludlow Building - Renovation

National Historic Register Buildings

The Ludlow Building is a tripartite, 35,000 square foot brick and terra cotta clad commercial structure that is the centerpiece of the National Register Dayton Terra Cotta Historic District. Built in 1916 as a mixed-use office and retail complex, it stood marginally occupied by the early 1980’s.

The building was renovated for use as corporate division offices by the Reynolds and Reynolds Company in 1996.

The project challenged typical ideas of renovation, as the client required large, open-office areas in what was originally a series of walled offices on each floor. By skillfully balancing the conflicting requirements of historic preservation with contemporary needs, the project was completed as a certified rehabilitation, conforming to the Secretary of the Interiors Standards for Rehabilitation, and provides office space widely acclaimed and enjoyed by its users.

Ludlow Building Interior: Downtown Dayton Ohio Significant work items involved in this project were terra cotta replication, cleaning and repair, replication of ornate cast bronze doorway entrance, storefront replication in ornamental copper using original shop drawings as a guide, plaster, terrazzo, and faux marble interior finishes, new plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems, and modifications for security.

The project received an Award of Merit from the Ohio Historic Preservation office of the Ohio Historical Society and an Honorable Mention from AIA Dayton Chapter.

The project qualified for over $1 million dollars in historic tax credits.

Original Construction - 1916
Renovation - 1992
Cost - $4.2 million

Wurlitzer Building - Adaptive Reuse

1921 Building

The Wurlitzer Building is a six-story, 18,000 square foot terra cotta clad commercial structure.

Built in 1921, by the Wurlitzer Organ Company for musical instrument sales and music training, by the early 1990’s it stood mostly vacant and uncared for.

The project was performed as a certified rehabilitation in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

Recognized for its importance, the structure was included in the National Register Dayton Terra Cotta District, and in 1992, Jeff Wray Architects was hired by the City of Dayton to perform a feasibility study for reuse of the building.

This study attracted the attention of The Reynolds & Reynolds Company, who retained Jeff Wray Architects to perform further studies of the suitability of the building for use as a corporate training center.

Based on the study, Reynolds & Reynolds purchased the building and retained Jeff Wray Architects as renovation architects for the project.

Wurlitzer Renovation Interior The project involved a complete exterior and interior renovation of the structure. Specific work items included:

repair, replication and cleaning of terra cotta cladding
exterior brick repair
storefront renovations
new elevator service
replication of interior ornate plaster
repair of bronze and travertine stairway
interior space planning
lighting
new plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems.

The project received an Award of Merit from Ohio Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio Historical Society.

Original Construction - 1926
Renovation - 1992
Cost - $ 1.2 million

Hauer Music - Adaptive Reuse

1880s Building

Hauer Music - Adaptive Reuse Urban Downtown Dayton Ohio This 1880's Miami-Erie Canal era brewery building was adapted for reuse as a retail music store in 1989.

Project services provided by Jeff Wray Architects, Inc./Reed-Doran Associates joint venture. The project involved the renovation of the historic Sachs & Pruden Brewery for use as a retail music store.

The four story, 36,000 square foot building was completely renovated. Work included:

upgrading for high rise safety
new first floor show windows
a new open connecting stairway
built up slab for space definition and flood control
new interior finishes and lighting systems
new HVAC and plumbing systems housed in a compatible addition.

Work also included complete exterior renovation and repair including site work for a sixty-car parking lot.

The project was executed on a budget of $40/S.F. while adhering to a well-defined construction schedule.

The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Jeff Wray Architects designed the project to conform to Federal standards for Renovation.

Work was done as a certified rehabilitation for tax credits through the United States Department of the Interior and Ohio Historic Preservation Office.

The project received an award citation from Preservation Dayton for Excellence in Preservation.

Original Construction - 1881
Renovation - 1989
Cost - $890,000

The Livery- Adaptive Reuse

1902 Building

The two-story brick and timber frame building at 322 South Patterson Boulevard was built in 1902 to house a livery stable.

The horse was soon displaced by more contemporary means of travel, and the building was used as a storage and warehouse facility until vacated in the early 1980’s.

Although included as a contributing structure in the National Register Oregon Historic District, the building was threatened with demolition in 1988 by a developer wanting to clear the land for new construction.

In response to this demolition request, Jeff Wray Architects, Inc. was retained by the City of Dayton Historic Architectural Committee to prepare a feasibility and cost study for reuse of the building.

Our study proved persuasive and legally sound, and permission to demolish was denied. The study attracted the attention of the owner of a local digital systems firm, who subsequently purchased the building and hired Jeff Wray Architects to provide comprehensive architectural and mechanical design services.

This project is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Work was done as a certified rehabilitation for tax credits through the United States Department of the Interior and Ohio Historic Preservation Office.

The project received an award citation from Preservation Dayton for Excellence in Preservation.

The project was conceived by the owner as a multi-tenant, mixed-use building and now houses:

his digital systems firm
a trade publication
incubating computer businesses
a photographer’s studio and residence
an advertising firm
a variety of graphic designers and artists.

Jeff Wray Architects provided design services for all of the original tenants.

Total building area is 15,000 square feet on two floors, within the budget of $38/SF.

The project was successful not only as an adaptive reuse and preservation effort, but as a venture which brought new life and commerce to a previously dormant area of one of our City’s important historic districts.

Original Construction - 1902
Renovation - 1990
Cost - $680,000

The Dayton Miami Valley Entrepreneur Center-Offices & Labs

New Construction

This two-story building provides spaces for start up businesses to hatch. The emphasis is on applied technology.

The exterior is clad in innovative autoclaved panels and integral louvers to present a refined and businesslike appearance.

The industrial style interior is expressive of the"roll up your sleeves and let it all hang out" nature of entrepreneurs.

JWA designed the building and provided extended services to coordinate over 17 separate prime contracts for construction of the project.

View a Dayton Business Journal article about this project.

Construction - 1999
Area - 38,000 square feet
Cost - $2.2 million

Ohio Scenic Byways Interpretive Center-Museum

1850s Building

Through the historic restoration of the Waynesville Fire House and Jail, the village gained a public meeting space and Interpretive Center for the Ohio Scenic Byways program.

The 1850's structure was reclaimed and modified to include fully accessible restrooms, a pantry, and a generously scaled meeting room. The exterior retains its original appearance and the original bell cupola was recreated.

The center received a merit award from the Ohio Historic Preservation Offices and from the Heritage Ohio and Downtown Ohio, Inc. annual 2003 awards.

Fairhaven Church

Jeff Wray Architects provided design services for four phases of construction:

modifying a master plan
building a Church Life Center
building classrooms
expanding the sanctuary following the original master plan.

The work was done in partnership with a contractor under a design-build contract with the Owner.

Construction - 1986-1999
Four phases Area - 115,000 square feet
Costs- Vary.

Ludlow Place

1905 Building
Home to Jeff Wray Architects

Jeff Wray, of Jeff Wray Architects, took on the role of owner / contractor / urban pioneer / developer for this 15,000 sq. ft. renovation of a 1905 building at 204 South Ludlow Street in downtown Dayton Ohio.

Vacant and threatened with demolition when purchased, the renovation of the four story commercial style structure anchors the corner of the Dayton Terra Cotta Historic District and resulted in a vital business community of nine thriving business tenants, including the offices of Jeff Wray Architects.

The exterior renovation created new, all-glass storefronts and repaired the masonry and sheet metal facade.

The interior renovation included a new elevator, state-of-the-art data technology, new electric, plumbing, and HVAC systems, and interior space design that blends old and new to create an appealing yet fashionable and functional business environment.