A Hidden Arch

When we first stopped at the Iron Horse we discussed the half arch on the exterior of the building, it seemed minimal at first but then it became reoccurring. The arch showed up in the Iron Horse logo and was throughout the building. It was incorporated into the coat racks, the floor rugs, branded onto wood barrels and the hotel dollies. The more I looked the more it became a presence. I found this to be the most interesting thing from our tour. They were not only preserving the integrity of the building with the cedar beams and brick, but they incorporated the Chicago brick style and headstone into there design. Although the interior seemed to be completely changed they took one of the smaller elements from the outside and incorporated it throughout. Although it might not necessarily play into preservation it was humbling to see it thought out in the process.

The Iron Horse was able to take a beautiful beat down building and turn it into a booming diverse business. In the three year conversion the integrity of the wooden structure was still intact and they achieved a vintage feel for the space.They incorporated the original arch from the exterior and emulated it throughout the space. The building may no longer represent the bedding factory that once took its place, but the business brings the left over parts into the limelight. I believe Dixon Development did a great job at reviving this building and succeed in preserving the integrity of the original structure.