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NCMS Design Services
- Staff
- 23 hours ago
- 2 min read
Since March 2016, the North Carolina Main Street Program has partnered with UNCG’s Interior Architecture Department and Center for Community-Engaged Design to offer design assistance to designated Main Street and Small Town Main Street communities. Selected undergraduate and graduate students, known as Main Street Fellows, collaborate with faculty to develop façade rehabilitation and upper-story apartment conversion designs.
NC Main Street and Small Town Main Street may request Design Services below.
Today's Facade Design Highlight
110 West Virginia Avenue, Bessemer City, NC
110 West Virginia Avenue is a contributing building in the Bessemer City Downtown Historic District. This 2-story brick commercial property was built circa 1950. The original storefront has been reconstructed with wood paneling and four small windows. The upper facade features two 16-lite metal frame windows. While there is no cornice on the building, the parapet is adorned simply with three short brick columns, one at the center and one at each end.
For many years, this was the Rex Theatre, one of Bessemer City’s several movie houses and evidence of the bracket that supported the marquee is still present.
The owner has requested a period appropriate storefront design with new doors, awning, and signage. Three design approaches are presented in this proposal, including one depicting a return to the presumed 1950s Rex Theatre design and two others based on typical retail storefronts. Clear images of the 1950 facade were not found. New information on the original configuration may be gleaned from ghost marks or other evidence revealed when the replacement storefront is removed and should be considered during reconstruction.
All proposed facade enhancements are intended to be consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
