Investigating and documenting historical features

We’ve begun the process of peeling back the 1980s renovation to the Women’s Club Building and have found some really interesting historic features. We love the owner’s of the building (The Beacon, an event venue: https://www.beacontopeka.com/) approach to this renovation. We’re taking it back almost entirely to what was originally built. The key things we are updating that wasn’t there in 1920 include fire sprinkler, fire alarm, more bathrooms, and updated kitchen.

Educate yourself on preservation: https://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs/35-architectural-investigation.htm

Peeking above a 1980s acoustical drop ceiling reveals a vaulted ceiling, historic light fixtures and architectural “ribs”.

The main level auditorium space sloped and tiered auditorium floor was covered up in the 1980s with a 2x floor and 1” plywood deck. We are removing this and exposing the original configuration.

An original “curved” door to no where. Yes it is purely decorative. But YES that door is curved.

The opposite side of the auditorium has a matching “curved door” to the picture above. This door once led to the stage and also acted as a secondary entry point to the auditorium. Kinda neat (non-code compliant) stairway.

Here’s an extremely rare spring/sprung floor. In the 1980s the floor was fixed to not move. The Owners plan to repair the floor so it once again acts as a sprung dance floor. We believe it to be the only surviving sprung floor in Kansas.