Christamore House
Indianapolis, IN

Halstead Architects was asked to conduct a feasibility study for building maintenance and improvements to Christamore House. This feasibility study focuses on both the present and future needs of Christamore House with regard to short and long term options that will impact the ability for Christamore House to serve its mission in Haughville while generating much needed revenue to keep the Center going for years to come.

This study is broken into three distinct phases, which correspond with the importance and cost requirements of the construction elements and activities. The ability for Christamore House to create partnerships with local and regional agencies, businesses and service organizations, in addition to programs which generate revenue, is imperative to building a strong future.

Phase 1 changes (blue) Phase 2 addition on-site (brown)

PHASE 3
Phase three contains the most drastic measures to increase building square footage and re-orient the use of the building. Included in phase three is a full renovation of the building interior. Some of the features that are already part of other phases would either already have been completed or would be incorporated in the following changes.

(Phase 3) Proposed 2-story addition

This phase requires the purchase of the adjacent Church lot to the west of Christamore House. This lot will become the new building addition along with additional parking and circulation space.

The first floor would be re-oriented around a new building addition, which would contain a central reception area adjacent to the stairs and elevator lobby. The building's entrance would be re-oriented from the east to the west, and the new parking lot to the west would feature a day-care drop off and more parking spaces. Parking would also be available in the north lot, which would become slated mostly for employee parking.

(Phase 3) Proposed 2-story addition with new parking lot

In addition to many of the features listed in other phases, the first floor would feature new building components as well. Teen areas would be reorganized on this floor so that activity would be more monitored. The existing day care area would be re-designed as a fitness center, which would now be adjacent to the gymnasium. In the new building addition, retail space would be provided along Michigan Street, and the remainder of the first floor space would become a new, much larger day care facility.

The second floor would be completely renovated to provide better organized office space, arranged around a centralized reception area. The reception area would take advantage of the new axis created with the building addition, as well as the building cupola, which would be opened up as a dome-like feature in the new offices. The second floor of the building addition would feature an atrium like central reception space and leasable office space for local neighborhood organizations or co-located businesses partnerships with the Christamore House.