Accord Architecture

Accord's work on this project goes beyond the normal design process. Two years prior to any demolition, Accord was assisting the new building owner in placing the former Mason City, Iowa YMCA building on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a difficult, but rewarding task. Not only did the building owner benefit from eventual tax incentives, but the community of Mason City has another building in the downtown area preserved with a very useful function. The low to moderate income-level apartments are important to the community and were a natural adaptive-reuse of this four-story building. The gymnasium was split into two-stories of apartment space, while the racquetball courts were converted into an indoor parking garage. Originally, the YMCA's third and fourth floors were comprised of narrow apartments for men. Some of these apartment walls (constructed of brick) were preserved, including the corridor walls. An important aspect of working with a building on the National Register of Historic Places is to maintain the exterior facade and fenestration (windows). Accord not only preserved these windows, but researched the building's past to be sure that all windows that had been compromised or filled in were converted back as close to their original appearance as possible.