Architecture firm to renovate historic city building
Jan. 16, 2018
Stone Group Architects plans to renovate a historic city building on the east end of downtown into its new office.
The fast-growing firm submitted a proposal to buy the building at 600 E. Seventh St., which was built in 1917 and served as a fire station, library and most recently storage space for the Parks and Recreation Department. It’s adjacent to Heritage Park.
“It’s a beautiful building,” Stone Group owner and principal architect Todd Stone said. “We’ve been wanting to find one for quite a while downtown and have been watching. That building is fairly unique with a lot of character and open areas, which we like for collaborative space in our office”
He plans to move his staff of eight into the first floor of the 6,100-square-foot space. Stone founded his firm in 2012, moved to his office at 319 N. Main Ave. two years later and also opened a location in Sioux City.
The new space is designed with growth in mind, he said.
“We need a lot more (people). We’re trying to find good help.”
He plans to lease out the second floor, which is about 2,000 square feet, to Alternative Strategies Group, a financial planning firm, until his firm needs the space.
Preliminary designs show outdoor seating added to the property as well as diagonal parking.
The city chose to negotiate a purchase and development agreement with Stone following a request for proposals. An agreement to sell the property will require City Council approval.
“It was important for the city to find a proposer who wanted to redevelop the property in a way that is complementary to Heritage Park and downtown Sioux Falls and would be a true asset to the neighborhood,” said Don Kearney, director of the Parks and Recreation Department.
Stone hopes to move in this fall.