James Alverson Architectural Portfolio 2000-2013

Portfolio of WorkJames Alverson

2000-2013

Adams School and Community CenterSt. Louis, Missouri

James Alverson, Trivers Project Manager and Construction Administrator

Two historic St. Louis Public Schoolstructures have been joined and tobecome part of a large new complexfor shared use as both a city publicelementary school and aneighborhood community center.

The facility allows for simultaneouseducation classes for both thechildren of the neighborhood as wellas for their parents. Programmedspaces include: typical schoolclassrooms and offices, separatespecialized classrooms for adults,weight rooms, a cardio-machineroom, an aerobic/dance room, lockerrooms for adults, families, and teamsports, a computer lab, andadministrative and support spaces.Shared spaces include a full-sizedgymnasium and a cafeteria.

The Adams School and CommunityCenter project came about as theresult of a partnership of public andprivate entities, including WashingtonUniversity. The community facilitycontributes to the revitalization of theForest Park Southeast Neighborhoodin the City of St. Louis.

Owners: St. Louis Public SchoolsAdams Park Community Center

Project Size: 104,000 square feetCompletion: December 2001

Forsyth School Expanded Campus Master PlanSt. Louis, Missouri

James Alverson, Trivers Project Manager

Owner: Forsyth SchoolCosts: Main Campus Sitework $1.1 million

Early Childhood Renovation $1.4 millionCompletion: August 2002 (Master Plan)

The private Forsyth School, uniquely containedwithin five historic homes and a newermultipurpose building, acquired a nearby churchand grounds in which they plan to house their EarlyChildhood Program. This proposed satelliteaddition allows for a main campus expansion ofboth their Arts Program and their limited OutdoorAthletic Program. In addition, landscaping, fencing,a new entrance drive and walkway modificationsare planned to define the main entry, screenparking, solve access problems, and connect thevarious campus elements.

Full completion of the various projects, as shownon the Main Campus Master Site Plan, includes amultipurpose athletic field, a running track, acovered multipurpose pavilion, new tot play areas,a new in-ground swimming pool and pool house, anew science lab building, and a natural pond areafor outdoor learning. The expanded Arts Programincludes separate 2D and 3D art classrooms andseparate studios for drama and dance. Outdoorarts areas include space for drawing and display.The central, focal-point pavilion serves as a maingathering area for students, teachers, and parents,promoting the sense of community in this school.

Satellite Early Childhood Site

Forsyth School New House Addition & RenovationSt. Louis, Missouri


Owner: Forsyth SchoolSize: Renovation 8,700 square feet

Addition 8,000 square feetCosts: $2.2 million including sport field/trackCompletion: April 2005

The New House addition and renovation projectadds new classrooms to the campus and doublesthe space provided for the Arts. The original NewHouse will receive new finishes, casework, lightingand plumbing with modest plan changes. In theaddition, the lunchroom is doubled in size allowingfor one less lunch period. Separate space isprovided for 3-D and 2-D Fine Arts. The Dramastudio now includes a small practice stage and thelarge Music Studio allows for dance and space formovement to music.

The Arts Center addition is visually separated fromthe original historic New House with glazing, butshares common materials including brick walls anda slate roof. The new elevator tower is extendedupwards and uniquely articulated with verticalslate, thereby becoming a clock tower and a newcampus icon.

Wilson School Addition and RenovationSt. Louis, Missouri


Addition Size: 7,000 Gross Square FeetCompletion: Summer 2005Cost: $3,400,000

For several years, the Wilson School pursued a projectwith another design team to build a major newgymnasium addition and renovate portions of theirexisting building. Throughout the process they wereunable to overcome difficulties in meeting the City ofClayton zoning code requirements. Of greatest concern tothe neighbors was the large volume of the originally-proposed new gym. The bulky structure overwhelmed theadjacent homes in this entirely residential neighborhood.A secondary issue was the loss of outdoor play space tothe school with the gym addition occupying the remainingsmall amount of open space.In the summer of 2003, Trivers Associates was engagedto develop a new conceptual design for the project and towork with the neighborhood subdivision associations andthe City of Clayton to create consensus of support inadvance of seeking formal zoning code variances. Thearchitects engaged the neighborhood and the City and afinal creative solution was approved and built.The now-completed solution used the benefit of heavilysloped site to bury the new gym and related spaces belowgrade…an underground gym. This decision totallyeliminated the out-of-scale with the neighborhood largegym volume. Moreover, the gym’s roof was now at gradeand was therefore useable for outdoor play space. Theschool got its gym and lost no outdoor open space. Theunderground gym is as light-filled as any above gradefacility, as it is illuminated along one entire side withskylights.

Clayton School District – Glenridge ElementaryClayton, Missouri


Owner: Clayton School DistrictSize: 7,750 square feetCompletion: August 2010

This expansion includes a three-story addition to beadded to this historic 1929 school, which serves gradesK-5. The lower level of the addition expands thelunchroom and thereby also creates a multipurpose room.The new first floor portion replaces a Kindergartenclassroom and the upper floor adds a new large sciencelab. A new fire stair connects all three levels and providesdirect access to the playground. The addition is acontextual piece, which matches the existing brick andstone facades, fenestration and sloped roof lines.Renovation workscope includes: reconfiguredclassrooms, a re-built stage, a new counselor suite andspecialized small classrooms. Various MEP systemimprovements will be made and a new fire sprinklersystem will be installed. Sitework includes a new sciencegarden adjacent to the new addition, sitting walls withadjacent landscaped beds, and foundation waterproofing.

As designed As built

Clayton School District – Captain ElementaryClayton, Missouri



The planned 2-story and 1-story additions continue theunique hexagonal geometry of this 1970s open–classroom school. The two additions generally fit underthe existing upper floor classrooms, which project overcovered concrete at –grade porches. These contextualadditions also match the existing brick and concretefacades and banded windows. The lower level of the 2-story addition provides a new science lab, a new Spanishlanguage lab and interior circulation. The upper portion ofthis addition provides an extra small classroom and acounselor office.

The smaller one-story addition, at the opposite end of theschool, expands the administrative offices. Renovationworkscope includes administrative office remodeling, anew storage mezzanine, MEP system improvements anda new fire sprinkler system. Sitework includes a re-builtscience garden adjacent to the new science lab, rampedwalkways, parking expansion and a new bus drop-off lane

As built

As designed

Clayton School District – Meramec ElementaryClayton, Missouri



This historic 1938 school serves grades K-5 in a facility,which has expanded three previous times in the last 70years. This latest planned expansion includes two additions.

The one-story addition expands the lunchroom and therebyalso creates a multipurpose room. The other addition is twostories high. It provides a large science lab at the first floor,upper floor small classrooms and office/conference spacesand a new fire stair. Both additions are contextual pieces,which fit the existing materials, form and roof lines.Renovation workscope includes upgraded restrooms, MEPimprovements and a new fire sprinkler system. Siteworkincludes a new science garden adjacent to the new sciencelab, terraced landscaped retaining walls defining theplayground, foundation waterproofing, and improved ADAaccess both within the site and into the building.

As designed

As built

Clayton School District – The Family CenterClayton, Missouri



With various programming andspecialized spaces, this earlychildhood center serves children from2 months old through 5 years old.

The brick-faced addition matches thescale and form of the original 1953building. The addition adds two upperfloor classrooms for 3-5 year oldchildren with child-scaled restroomfixtures. The two classrooms featurewindows with lower sill heights forchild-scale viewing. An indoor lower-level multi-purpose room provides toa large open space for gross motorskill development. The addition alsoincludes a new elevator to allow forimproved accessibility.

Miscellaneous alterations were madein the current building portions torespond to code compliance.Sitework includes increased parking,an outdoor classroom/gatheringspace, terraced planted beds tomitigate water intrusion problems andnew sidewalks.

As designed

As built

The Old Post OfficeSt. Louis, Missouri


Developer: DESCO/DFC GroupSize: 242,000 square feetCost: $26 millionCompletion: September 2006

GSA and DESCO/DFC Group joined forces with theState of Missouri’s Court of Appeals for the EasternDistrict and Webster University to redevelop the OldPost Office as a multi-use complex. The historic OldPost Office building, is a National Historic Landmarkin downtown St. Louis.

Adding modern engineered systems, 21st centuryoffices, and new fixtures and finishes was a greatchallenge. Extreme care was required to fit this newwork into the historic and decorative fabric withouthurting the its original integrity.

Throughout the long design process, Triversworked closely with a myriad of review buildingpreservation entities including the General ServicesAdministration, the National Park Service and itsAdvisory Council of Historic Preservation, the StateHistoric Preservation Office, the local CulturalResources Office, and the Landmarks Association ofSt. Louis.

The Old Post OfficeSt. Louis, Missouri


Developer: DESCO/DFC GroupSize: 242,000 square feetCost: $26 millionCompletion: September 2006

The Court of Appeals has taken the top twofloors, re-utilizing the two historic maincourtrooms and the remainder of these twofloors for judges’ chambers and supportspace.

The State of Missouri tenancy also includesSt. Louis office space for the AttorneyGeneral, the Secretary of State, and theDepartment of Health and Senior Services.

Webster University occupies the entire floorjust below the main entry level, the Mid-Level. These classrooms address theeducational needs of downtown workers.

The other private tenants include: the St.Louis Business Journal, the St. Louis PublicLibrary, Teach for America, Focus St. Louis,the Pasta House Company and a smallmuseum on the history of the building itself.The once-vacant building is now 100%occupied.

U.S. Post Office and CourthouseNew Bern, North Carolina


Owner: General Services AdministrationSoutheast Region 4, Atlanta, Georgia

Size: 42,000 Gross Square FeetCompletion: Fall 2010Cost: $10,000,000

Following two smaller renovations, this phase 3renovation/addition project addresses thebalance and the majority of the remaining workin this 1933 Georgian Revival U.S. Post Office &Courthouse structure.Restoration with minor alterations of historicpublic spaces and the major historic courtroomare included. Conservation work occurred onvarious historic elements such as the originallighting fixtures, terrazzo and tile flooringand plaster wall surfaces. Plan changes includethe addition of a new bankruptcycourtroom/hearing room to be located in theformer U.S. Post Office space. A brick andstone addition was built at the rear, whichmaintains the strict symmetry of the originalstructure. This addition houses a new U.S.Marshals suite.

The addition will include new secure separatecirculation for the judge and prisoners, a vehicularsallyport, a new area command station for theMarshals Service, and prisoner holding cells.Envelope work includes a roof repair, painting,tuckpointing, historic flagpole replacement andpavement restoration. Envelope building securityimprovements include the addition of blast-proofwindow sash with window film. Building accessibilityand security is also being addressed at both the frontpublic entry and rear employee entrance. The modernsecurity screening equipment and processing will beaccomplished in a room outside of the historic frontlobby. A fenced parking lot with a guard stationoccupies the rear area.Finally, the GSA is striving to achieve a LEED “Silver”rating for this renovation/addition project. This goalhas driven multiple changes to the MEP upgrades andother design elements.

U.S. Post Office and CourthouseSan Antonio, Texas


Owner: General Services AdministrationGreater SW Region 7, Fort Worth, Texas

Size: 308,270 Gross Square FeetCompletion: Winter 2011Cost: $46,000,000

This multi-use Federal building,sited adjacent to historic AlamoSquare, was built in 1937 and islisted on the National Register ofHistoric Places.

The project consists of multipleFederal agency and public spacealterations/modernizations tied tomajor structural, mechanical,electrical, plumbing, and fire safetyupgrades. Many of the envelop andMEP improvements also serve toattain the goal of LEED Goldcertification. The alterations arealso focused on improved accessand usability for disabled users.Such alterations include a moredignified means of main entry andrenovated restrooms. Thismodernization will provide ageneral-use conference center, newspace for the U.S. Department ofHousing and Urban Developmentand for multiple smaller newFederal tenants. All alterationswere designed with improvedsecurity in mind and were approvedby the various Federal agenciesfocused on security. Constructionwork is phased to allow for theongoing activities of the existingtenants.

Preservation design solutionswere developed and reviewed incompliance with the NationalHistoric Preservation Act and inconjunction with the Texas StateHistoric Preservation Officer.

Catco Catastrophe Cleaning and RestorationSt. Louis, Missouri

Alverson Architecture

Size: 22,960 Gross Square FeetCompletion: April 2012Cost: $480,000

Catco engaged Alverson Architecture to redesign anexisting commercial /industrial building to efficientlyaccommodate the entire Catco operations andadministration facility for the St. Louis area, relocating thecompany from St. Louis City to the St. Louis County.Catco responds to properties damaged by fire, wind andwater, providing onsite remediation or by bringingdamaged items back to their facility for specializedcleaning. They also provide in house reconstructionservices.

This project was designed and built in two phases ofapproximately equal areas. Completion of the phase onescope allowed the operational activities andequipment/storage components to move into newcommon space on one level. The older Catco facility hadthese activities and items located in two buildings onmultiple floors. Phase one had its own office space,cleaning rooms and support spaces.Phase Two encompassed all administrative functionsincluding office space for sales, accounting, construction,support spaces and featured a large 40-person trainingroom. Catco trains outside individuals, who wish tobecome certified in catastrophe cleaning. The new facilityprovides for a more efficient work flow and for bettercommunication between the various departments.

Anderson Family New HouseSt. Louis, Missouri

Alverson Architecture

Size: 1,630 Gross Square FeetCompletion: September 2013Cost: $160,000

Alverson Architecture designed this new house for the Anderson Family located in The Ville, an historicneighborhood in the City of St. Louis. The new house replaces an original home, which was heavilydamaged by a fire next door. The new two bedroom / 2 bath home is a simple rectangular structure, whichmatches the height, massing, materials and detail of other existing nearby historic homes.Because of the house’s location in an historic district, Alverson Architecture had to gain approval for theexterior design from the City’s Historic Preservation Board. The initial design called for a brick front façadewith vinyl siding on the other sides. The Board rejected the use of vinyl siding and required additionalfenestration on the front façade to match the look of the neighboring homes. Alverson Architecture proposeda final design compromise, which was approved by the Board, the homeowner and which fit the contractor’sbudget. The brick was eliminated, with all four facades covered in cement board clapboard siding. Thissiding was painted to match the original brick color. The use of clapboard siding is consistent with otherhomes in this historic district. The extra windows were also added to the front façade. The completedhouse was completed on budget and its design matches the scale and detail of its neighboring home.

Original Fire-Damaged House New House Front Facade

Entablature detail wraps corner Adjacent home used as design reference

Design

James Alverson Architectural Portfolio 2000-2013