Belfry Apartments, Minnesota

Belfry Apartments: Exemplifying Innovative Transformation and Historical Preservation

The Belfry Project showcases BKBM Engineers' ability to blend historic preservation with modern residential design. This ambitious endeavor involved converting a historic church and school building into multi-family housing while maintaining its original charm.

The sanctuary was transformed into a multi-purpose space for Calvary Church and community activities. Strengthening the sanctuary floor required lightweight cellular concrete infill, and the absence of existing construction drawings added complexity. We also updated the elevator, installed a wheelchair lift, and added mechanical equipment and a roof hatch to the school building.

A critical part of the project was the sanitary sewer retrofit. Unable to connect to existing sewers without major disruption, our civil team devised a solution using a directional bored casing pipe to connect within Elliot Avenue, minimizing impact on public infrastructure.

Adjacent to the church, we built a three-level wood-framed apartment building. The partially below-grade lower level and an intricate canopy above the northeast entry posed significant engineering challenges. Unconventional brick support, non-stacking exterior openings, and unique site conditions required customized solutions.

Drainage was particularly challenging due to shared alley access and the limited depth of public storm sewers. Our civil team collaborated closely with the contractor, mechanical engineer, and architect to utilize existing sewers and minimize public street disruption.

The Belfry Project exemplifies BKBM Engineers' commitment to innovative, high-quality solutions, transforming the church and school into a vibrant multi-family housing development. For more information or to discuss your engineering needs, please contact BKBM Engineers.