Studio Building (DeVotie-Baker-Hollingsworth Block)

516-522 East Grand Avenue

Built in 1878; the designer is unknown

NRHP 1978

Home of Anderson Furniture from 1920-1955

In 1922, the original window hoods were cut, the brick façade was roughened, and an inch of fine aggregate concrete was applied to resemble limestone blocks.

The brick used to replace old brick was not brand new.  The owner got the brick from an old brickyard by the river where people used to dump unwanted brick.

Took 11 years to find an artist, make and install the window hoods. After searching all over the country, the building owner found an artist living outside Council Bluffs, Iowa, to complete the work of making the window hoods.

Each of the 25 hoods cost $3,000 per window. ($5,000 in 2012 $’s)

The replacement window hoods had to have a cast made in a process that involved making the mold out of clay, then plaster, then rubber.

Restoration was completed in 2003.