Office History

Since our work constantly focuses on creating a sense of place, I thought I'd feature our place, the Meleca office. 



144 E. State Street, Columbus, Ohio

According to the Franklin County Auditor's site, in 1923, the building was owned by Columbus attorney Rutherford H. Platt who owned extensive real estate throughout Columbus. 



Rutherford H. Platt





144 E State Street on far left



Platt's mother was sister to U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes.  The auditor site indicates Platt heirs owned the building until the year 2000.

The date of the above photo is unknown and our search for more have been unsuccessful.   This view is looking northwest from the intersection of E. State and 4th Street.  If you look closely, you can see awnings on the front windows.  We hope to replicate one day.

We purchased the downtown office building four years ago.  After a year of extensive renovations - we moved in. 



Entry before





Entry after



We kept as much of the original structure as we could.  And our traditional style is expressed throughout.  

Lobby before

Lobby after



Board Room



Library



Agora looking into Drafting Room



Drafting Room before



Drafting Room after

The drafting room features original wood rafters and an exposed steel truss which was discovered during demolition.  Skylight was added during construction.

Bensi Ristorante Italiano

Bensi Ristorante Italiano located at Peninsula Town Center in Hampton, Virginia, is just one of the latest designs added to Meleca Architecture's archive of restaurant projects.
  

Photographs courtesy Steiner + Associates and  Anthony Prater photography

Bensi opened this past Spring in the lifestyle center developed by Steiner + Associates.  The restaurant design theme is Italian Modern - which means modern forms with traditional detailing.

One design challenge was the main window because it let in so much light and defined the space so strongly.

So, the design centered around that window.  Meleca came up with the idea that the large window could be similar to an old train station with barrel vaulting with thermal windows.
 



The 180 seat restaurant is set within a redevelopment of an existing retail center.  The once enclosed mall is now an open-air shopping destination.  It's the only 'town center' development in the region. 

 Steiner is also the developer of Columbus' Easton Town Center.