Walter E. Smithe Furniture

Merrillville, IN       

The project site is located at the busy intersection of Route 30 and Broadway in Merrillville, Indiana.  Due to its visibility from all directions, this freestanding building required architectural treatment on all four sides. A major obstacle to this site was a zoning ordinance that would not allow the loading dock to be located along an interior lot line. With a corner lot, this restriction meant that the dock had to be located on the street side of the building.  Both the Client, and the Town of Merrillville wanted this loading dock to be integrated into the design of the building, and screened from view. This was accomplished by covering the loading dock with a roof, and then locating an exterior furniture display area on this roof.  This second floor exterior display area is surrounded by a stone baluster railing which integrates with the stone bands used elsewhere on the building.  The loading dock entrance is screened using decorative wrought iron gates.