The document describes three historic building renovation projects: 1) A 1902 commercial building in St. Louis that was renovated into a restaurant with nightclubs and banquet space while preserving historic characteristics. 2) A traditional two-story house that was opened up and modernized with decorative columns, hardwood flooring, and an updated fireplace. 3) A small 1940s house that had a second story added while disguising the addition to not look like a simple upward extension from below. The addition had deep overhangs to provide horizontality.

1. F15TEEN at 1900 Locust Ave.
What a lovely 3 story solid masonry building with a stone basement constructed in 1902 for the
Webber family’s farm implement business. It was turned into an automobile showroom in the
“Automobile Row” area of St. Louis City. Each floor is constructed from 2x14 at 12” O.C. with
hardwood subfloor and finished hardwood flooring. There was a large elevator used for hoisting
automobiles to the second and third floors. Over the decades, many tenants used the building, but
little was done to damage most of the historic characteristics of the building.
gailsbrody@gmail.com ▪ H: 314-781-7023 ▪ C: 314.265.7089 ▪ 7056 Horner Avenue ▪ St. Louis, MO 63117
With the guidance of a historic preservationist, we remodeled the building. Masonry walls were left
intact along with the heavy masonry columns and beams. All windows were removed and replaced
with thermal windows with mullions to match the shapes of windows for its period. We created a
new restaurant with two Night Clubs and Banquet space on the first and second floors. The third
floor is office suites. The basement is used for restaurant offices and restaurant storage. The original
elevator was removed and replaced with a grand staircase. Two smaller passenger elevators were
installed. Interior egress stairwells were constructed with exits to the exterior. The building was
placed on the National Historic Register. Visit www.15stl.com.
Front—before construction Front—after construction
Banquet—before construction Banquet—after construction
GAIL S. BRODY

2. Moonglow Residence Full update
A traditional 2 story house constructed over a crawl space. The owners had decorated with a hodge
podge of items collected over the years. The room arrangements were traditional. Enter the front
door into the Foyer. Living Room on the left. Dining Room on the right. Family room through the
foyer to the rear. Powder Room and wet bar separate the Family Room from the Kitchen. There were
lots of walls.
gailsbrody@gmail.com ▪ H: 314-781-7023 ▪ C: 314.265.7089 ▪ 7056 Horner Avenue ▪ St. Louis, MO 63117
The first floor was opened up with lovely decorative columns which helped to punctuate the
openings. Hardwood flooring was installed throughout to create a monolithic look. The brick fireplace
and hearth were encased and the look was modernized. The resulting look, feel and function will last
for the years to come with out dating itself.
Foyer—before construction Foyer—after construction
Fireplace—before construction Fireplace—after construction
Kitchen—after construction
GAIL S. BRODY

3. Sanders Residence Add a second story
This was a classic GI house for soldiers returning from WW II. It was a two bedroom, one bath
house with Kitchen, Dining area and a Living Room. It has a full, but unfinished basement. The client
wanted to add a second floor and construct new stairs to the second as an addition on the side of
the house. They specifically did not want the addition to look like it was just extended straight up
from the first floor. In reality, the second floor was extended from the first floor. A wrap around
porch created the transition. The houses in the neighborhood were of a modest size. The roof line of
gailsbrody@gmail.com ▪ H: 314-781-7023 ▪ C: 314.265.7089 ▪ 7056 Horner Avenue ▪ St. Louis, MO 63117
the addition needed to “speak” quietly and not be overbearing. The deep overhangs helped to
provide horizontality and took away from the vertical condition of the second floor.
House—before construction
House—after construction
GAIL S. BRODY

4. Marino Residence Mirror the addition
This house was built in 1890. With a heavy stone foundation and all wood framing. Wonderfully large
windows had never been replaced. The neighborhood is historic in that many of the houses are wood
framed and nearly 100 years old. This one had only a 7’-0” high basement. The owners wanted to
double the size of the house, construct a 9’-0” deep basement, and wanted to keep the same look.
Mirroring the front provide the solution that would keep the house looking as though it had always
been the was it was. The basement was piered with helical screws drilled into the earth. The new
gailsbrody@gmail.com ▪ H: 314-781-7023 ▪ C: 314.265.7089 ▪ 7056 Horner Avenue ▪ St. Louis, MO 63117
basement walls were then constructed at the depth desired. New stairs were constructed to the
basement.
The original stair case to the second floor was not replaced when the addition was built. The front
foyer was in tact keeping the original look. A totally new Kitchen was built with a Family Room at the
rear. The house now fits the early century size for the 21st century.
House—before construction
House—after construction
GAIL S. BRODY

5. Knebel Residence Addition (pg 2)
The Family Room was constructed in the rear of the house. The existing rear wall was partially
demolished at the Kitchen and a new beam was installed to carry the load with new clerestory
windows in the upper part above the original height of the wall. Open circulation was achieved
around the Kitchen counter. A new rear corridor/gallery was made. A 16’-0” wide sliding door was
installed to let interior circulation flow to the exterior patio. The roof of the new Family Room was a
shed roof which was cost effective to construct and provided extra height to the interior space. The
gailsbrody@gmail.com ▪ H: 314-781-7023 ▪ C: 314.265.7089 ▪ 7056 Horner Avenue ▪ St. Louis, MO 63117
ceiling shelf acted as the transition from one ceiling to the other. The Powder Room was constructed
from space in the Garage and has a door that opens to the Family Room. A Laundry Room was also
created from space in the Garage and has a pair of doors that open to the new Foyer.
Existing rear wall of the
Kitchen—before construction
Close up of Kitchen counter
looking into Family Room
Rear wall removed—during construction
and after construction
GAIL S. BRODY

6. Knebel Residence Addition (pg 1)
The program for this house was to create circulation around the Kitchen counter, add a Family Room,
Laundry Room and a 3/4 Bath. The first thing that I noticed was that one of the garage doors was
always open so that the children and everyone else could enter the house from the Garage. There
was storage pad inside the Garage next to the wall separating the Garage from the house. The
solution was to convert the storage pad into interior space by constructing a wall in the Garage and
removing the existing separating wall. A new door on the front wall was installed. This created a
gailsbrody@gmail.com ▪ H: 314-781-7023 ▪ C: 314.265.7089 ▪ 7056 Horner Avenue ▪ St. Louis, MO 63117
new “informal entrance” that everyone uses. It provided new circulation options.
House—showing open garage door before construction House—showing “informal door” after
construction
GAIL S. BRODY

7. Good Samaritan Hospital
Initially a two story hospital in Puyallup, WA that was growing rapidly. A third and forth floor were
constructed on top of the existing second floor. An exo-skeleton was constructed wrapping the first,
second, and third floors. The forth floor takes on the new look of the addition to the right side in the
photograph. The new floors became the oncology departments with new nurses stations and patient
gailsbrody@gmail.com ▪ H: 314-781-7023 ▪ C: 314.265.7089 ▪ 7056 Horner Avenue ▪ St. Louis, MO 63117
Officer Housing Fort Lewis, WA
Base housing for officers build in the 1920’s needed to be modernized and updated. Front porch
canopies were designed for over the front doors. The design had to meet approval from the historic
preservationist for the Army Base. The interiors were reconfigured with new Kitchens which met
today’s life styles. Mechanical systems updated to meet code.
GAIL S. BRODY

8. Livestock Pavilion
Every year the Western Washington Fair in Puyallup is a big attraction where scones slathered in
butter and jam are sold by the thousands. A lovely time of the year, the temperature is in the 60’s ,
maybe as high as 70 degrees. This Livestock Pavilion is constructed from heavy timber. It has the
classic barn look and feel. The interior is all exposed timbers and wood.
gailsbrody@gmail.com ▪ H: 314-781-7023 ▪ C: 314.265.7089 ▪ 7056 Horner Avenue ▪ St. Louis, MO 63117
Fleet Feet Sports
For the active individual who especially loves the running world, Fleet Feet Sports is the retail
establishment that will also serve as your training coach. With three locations in the St. Louis area, I
have been the designer for each location. Located in shopping centers, each store is individually
designed with a consistent theme and color pallet. Shopping is a pleasure as the employees are
runners as well. The photos are from the websites.
GAIL S. BRODY

9. Watters Residence
A new residence full of old world charm and opulence, ideal for entertaining in the most prestigious
way. A master suite with comfort and coziness when it’s just the two of them.
gailsbrody@gmail.com ▪ H: 314-781-7023 ▪ C: 314.265.7089 ▪ 7056 Horner Avenue ▪ St. Louis, MO 63117
Spiro Residence Algonquin Golf Club
Notice this Garage. It looks like it was always a A new wine cellar and tasting/ dining room was
part of the house when it was constructed in squeezed into existing space of the golf club.
1928. It was constructed a few years ago. Members will have their own wine from their
Architectural elements were borrowed from the own vineyards. This dining room has Cultured
original and connected by a breezeway. stone with faux painting on the walls.
GAIL S. BRODY
Crabbin Residence
Another 1920’s clay block with stucco house having the Garage demolished and a new one
constructed with a Master Bedroom Suite. Existing stairs used with creative twist for entrance.