Monroe Place adaptive reuse of midcentury school into modern apartments
2019 Preservation at its Best: Adaptive Reuse
Four Oaks and ASK Studio/AKAY Consulting transformed vacated Monroe Elementary School in Cedar Rapids into 19 multi-family apartments called Monroe Place. With its original footprint and many of architectural features still in place, the 1961 building’s historic use is immediately apparent even now that it serves as modern affordable housing. This one-story, 24,000-square-foot building is a model for preserving a vacant school building with the use of state and federal historic tax credits.
Monroe place exterior view
Preservation Iowa’s two most visible programs are Iowa’s Most Endangered and Preservation at Its Best. These two programs work well together because being listed as Most Endangered often times leads to awareness, a preservation effort, and a high-quality, award winning project.
The full list of Preservation Iowa’s 2019 Preservation at its Best award winners includes:
- Wilkins Building (Des Moines)
- Daniel Brothers Super Service Station (Des Moines)
- Harbach Lofts (Des Moines)
- Monroe Place (Cedar Rapids)
- Siouxland Historical Railroad Association (Sioux City)
- Woodbury County Courthouse Website (Sioux City)
- Fort Des Moines Rehabilitation (Des Moines)
- State of Iowa Capitol Dome Restoration (Des Moines)
- Garst Farmhouse (Coon Rapids)
- 2019 Preservationist of the Year: John R. Snapp
