An 1896 Schoolhouse and a Company Headquarters
In 1987, Bill Browne (President + Founder of RATIO) received a note and a Polaroid of an 1896, four-room schoolhouse from Jim Baker, chairman and CEO of Arvin Industries, a Fortune 500 company located in architecturally-significant Columbus, Ind. The note asked if the firm would like to participate in a design competition that would turn the school into the company’s executive headquarters.
“It was time for us to have a corporate headquarters. We were a multi-divisional company and we were all headquartered in one building and it was time to give the divisions a little more running room,” said Baker. “I engaged seven firms to come look at our project. RATIO was one of those seven.”
RATIO won the work. Baker says of choosing RATIO that, “It was a no-brainer. When Bill Browne came into the building and made some sketches and renderings of what he thought that building could look like as an office building, he really turned us on. It was a real ‘wow.’”
The Arvin Headquarters project was the first that gave RATIO the opportunity to showcase all of its disciplines within the firm — architecture, interior design, preservation and landscape architecture.
“I think the real challenge was how to take an existing building and not tear it down even though it was almost in that shape; add to it, and make it seamless so that when the visitor looked at the building, they wouldn’t know where the old building left off and the new building started. And they did that very, very well,” said Baker.
Upon completion of the $5 million project, RATIO became the first Indiana-based firm on the Columbus architectural tour. The tour highlights more than 70 Columbus buildings and pieces of public art designed by internationally noted architects and artists.
“I’ve done two or three projects with RATIO, and it seems like they get personally engaged,” Baker said. “They listen. They want to do what the client wants as opposed to pre-conceived notions as to what they think they should do. They listened very well to what our needs were and they carried it out with great fashion. It was just a big success story all-around.”
The exterior renovation of the Hamilton County Courthouse was our first Courthouse project.
These buildings are significant community landmarks. RATIO appreciates each courthouse’s unique attributes and works to ensure that these distinguishing features are accentuated & preserved.
Areas of Expertise
Some say that you can’t go forward without first looking back. RATIO’s team of historic preservation specialists tend to agree. RATIO knows that historic preservation does more than simply preserve the past; it also creates a bond between a community and its citizens, stabilizes neighborhoods, creates viable business districts and helps conserve economic resources. Ultimately, historic preservation protects a community’s heritage while providing a sense of place and distinction.
Condition Assessments
A comprehensive examination of a facility’s existing conditions documents existing assets, needs, issues, and opportunities. These documents provide a baseline understanding of what exists and typically serve as the first step in planning and budgeting for future improvements.
UNION STATION JOLIET, IL
IN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF INDIANAPOLIS, IN
HESLAR NAVAL ARMORY INDIANAPOLIS, IN
NORMAL HALL INDIANA STATE UNIV.
LINCOLN TOMB SPRINGFIELD, IL
FAIRBANKS HALL INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
LARUE CARTER HOSPITAL CAMPUS INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Compatible Additions
Compatible, contemporary additions respect the character, materials, and proportions of the historic building while clearly showing that they are a product of their own time.
HUFF HALL KHAN ANNEX UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
LYDIA MIDDLETON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MADISON, IN
OMNI SEVERIN HOTEL INDIANAPOLIS, IN
GRAND GARDNER HOTEL VALPARAISO, IN
PUTNAM COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY GREENCASTLE, IN
GREHAN HALL UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
Masonry Repairs
Repairs to historic masonry require proper design and implementation to ensure a compatible, durable result.
SEIBERLING MANSION KOKOMO, IN
GENERAL LEW WALLACE STUDY CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN
BUSKIRK-CHUMLEY THEATER BLOOMINGTON, IN
CANNELTON COTTON MILL CANNELTON,IN
PORTER CENTER SHELBYVILLE, IN
Roof Repairs + Replacements
Repair and replacement of historic roofing requires careful design and execution to maintain the architectural character of the building while creating a weathertight envelope. BEFORE
GEORGE ROGERS CLARK NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK VINCENNES, IN
BOTTLEWORKS HOTEL INDIANAPOLIS, IN
THE ATHENEAUM INDIANAPOLIS, IN
HAMILTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE NOBLESVILLE, IN
Overall Building Rehabilitations + Renovations
Successful renovations of existing facilities require careful planning, upgrading systems and spaces to meet contemporary needs while maintaining the building’s historic character for present and future generations.
OASIS DINER PLAINFIELD, IN
MCNICHOLS CIVIC CENTER DENVER, CO
GIBSON BLOCK BUILDING INDIANAPOLIS, IN
BROUGHTON HIGH SCHOOL RALEIGH, NC
MCNICHOLS CIVIC CENTER DENVER, CO
BLAIR HALL EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
THE ASSEMBLY APARTMENTS INDIANAPOLIS, IN
AMERICAN WOODMAN BUILDING DENVER, CO
GREYHOUND TERMINAL RESTORATION EVANSVILLE, IN
JULIAN CARR BUILDING DURHAM, NC
SACRED HEART APARTMENTS GARRETT, IN
JULIAN CARR BUILDING DURHAM, NC
Theatre / Auditorium Improvements
Performance and assembly spaces require carefullyplanned improvements to maintain their historic character while accommodating the needs of contemporary audiences and productions.
BURNING COAL THEATER RALEIGH, NC
MORRIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER SOUTH BEND, IN
BROUGHTON HIGH SCHOOL RALEIGH, NC
THE PITMAN GADSDEN, AL
Window Replacement + Restorations
Improvements to historic windows require a high level of understanding of existing conditions and potential treatments to determine the approach that best suits the project’s architectural character, energy performance, and budget.
SOUTHERN RAILWAY FREIGHT DEPOT RALEIGH, NC
CHESAPEAKE BUILDING INDIANAPOLIS, IN
HINKLE FIELDHOUSE BUTLER UNIVERSITY
GIBSON BUILDING INDIANAPOLIS, IN
ILLINI UNION UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
Historic Sites
Scholarly research, expert analysis, and accurate restoration are key to the authentic presentation, relevant interpretation, and successful operation of museums and historic sites. The RATIO team has led planning and restoration work for numerous historic sites of local, state, and national significance.
PRESIDENT BENJAMIN HARRISON HOME INDIANAPOLIS, IN
WILLIAM WHITLEY HOUSE STANFORD, KY
HISTORIC ELEUTHERIAN COLLEGE LANCASTER, IN
PRESIDENT WARREN G. HARDING HOME MARION, OH
SHREWSBURY-WINDLE HOUSE MADISON, IN
HILLFOREST MANSION AURORA, IN
CHIEF RICHARDVILLE HOUSE FT WAYNE, IN
AVIATION HERITAGE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK DAYTON, OH
AUBURN CORD DUESENBERG AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM HSR AUBURN, IN
GEORGE ROGERS CLARK NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK VINCENNES, IN
UNITED STATES POST OFFICE BOISE, ID
FEDERAL BUILDING & U.S. COURTHOUSE PORT HURON, MI
U.S. CUSTOMS HOUSE AND POST OFFICE ST. LOUIS, MO
FEDERAL OFFICE BUILDING KANSAS CITY, MO
FEDERAL BUILDING & U.S. COURTHOUSE MILWAUKEE, WI
Landscape Restorations
Accurate restoration and sensitive rehabilitation of historic designed, vernacular, and natural landscapes requires scholarly research, expert analysis of existing features and documentation, and thorough knowledge of materials, details, and local ecological conditions.
CIRCLE CENTRE FACADES INDIANAPOLIS, IN
2 & 6 EAST WASHINGTON GREENCASTLE, IN
ALLEN COUNTY COURTHOUSE GREEN FT WAYNE, IN
TAGGART MEMORIAL AMPHITHEATER INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Hotels + Hospitality
Our work balances restoration and modernization, carefully retaining character-defining elements while upgrading spaces to meet contemporary guest expectations and operational needs. By combining preservation expertise with hospitality-driven design, the RATIO helps reposition historic properties as vibrant, economically sustainable destinations.
BOTTLEWORKS HOTEL INDIANAPOLIS, IN
AC HOTEL BY MARRIOTT AT CIRCLE TOWER INDIANAPOLIS, IN
JOURNEYMAN DISTILLERY VALPARAISO, IN
EAGLE COTTON MILL HOTEL MADISON, IN
CHARLEY CREEK INN WABASH, IN
INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL INDIANAPOLIS, IN
THE FICKLEN TRIBUTE GREENVILLE, NC
CAPITOL ANNEX BUILDING RENOVATION DENVER, CO
CHARLEY CREEK INN WABASH, IN
RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOL (HESLAR ARMORY) INDIANAPOLIS, IN
LEGLER REGIONAL LIBRARY CHICAGO, IL
ARTSPACE LOVELAND FEED & GRAIN LOVELAND, CO
