Historic renovation is more than a preservation technique—it’s an essential strategy for sustainable architecture. We’re proud to showcase our Door County Community Center as a shining example. Venture Architects transformed a former 1930s highway shop into a vibrant community hub that serves dual purposes as the home of the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and as the headquarters for the county’s Emergency Services Department. Through thoughtful restoration and modern reimagining, this project highlights how adaptive reuse can breathe new life into landmarks.
The 80-year-old highway shop had served Door County faithfully as a maintenance hub for decades. Its hand-cut stone walls, arched wooden beams, and four-foot-thick masonry were remnants of a bygone era. But by the time the adaptive reuse project began, the space was weathered, contaminated with diesel fumes, and laden with structural concerns that seemed insurmountable. Bringing this historic structure into the 21st century involved solving both aesthetic and functional challenges.
Preserving the building’s unique character meant restoring original features wherever possible. This meticulous attention to detail required innovative approaches, as shown in the following examples:
The original hand-cut stone facade underwent complete tuck-pointing and cleaning. Where sections needed replacement, new stone was expertly blended with the original material. The result? A revitalized facade that maintained its timeless aesthetic.
Over decades, the wooden arches and beams had turned black with soot and grime, losing their natural beauty. Through a precise soda-blasting technique, layers of exhaust residue were removed, revealing the beams’ original light-wood tone. Baking soda, a gentle yet effective cleaning agent, also eliminated odors, making the building fresh and habitable.
New energy-efficient glazing was installed in the existing window openings, maintaining the historical mullion patterns while modernizing thermal performance. These upgrades were vital for achieving sustainable energy use while retaining the building’s original design cues.
Thoughtful touches, like leaving the industrial crane from the highway shop and repurposing boiler doors into art installations, established a bridge between the building’s rugged past and its new purpose as a community hub.
While honoring historical elements was essential, the project didn’t stop there. It introduced contemporary features aimed at enhancing usability and creating vibrant community spaces.
The old truck garage gave way to a bright, inviting dining hall with high ceilings and arched windows. Modern glass partitions optimized natural lighting and visual transparency throughout the center, creating spaces that feel airy while fostering connection.
Outdoors, an exterior deck complements the interior updates, providing a welcoming setting for events. These modern enhancements add vibrancy to the building without compromising its historic charm.
The ADRC provides crucial support to older adults and residents with disabilities, helping them lead active, connected lives. Since its reopening, the facility has witnessed an outpouring of community engagement, with 600 individuals registering in just three months. The building now increases program capacity nearly fourfold, allowing for expanded programming to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population. Meal site attendance in Sturgeon Bay is up more than 30% from the previous facility, fitness room participation has grown by 40%, and call volume to the ADRC program has climbed by 58%.
“I think it’s very proactive thinking,” said Jake Erickson. “When you think about our older adults, those that are 60‐years‐old and older, that population alone is going to grow exponentially in the next 15 years.”
Beyond meeting the needs of senior citizens, County Administrator Ken Pabich sees the facility as a way to better incorporate other nonprofit services across the county under a collective space. “It’s a shared facility for the entire county to come in and use it,” Pabich said. “People can come in here and use it, not just for meals, but for learning and exercise.”
This transformation has turned a once-dilapidated highway shop into a true gathering place—tangible proof that adaptive reuse not only preserves structures, but also invigorates communities and prepares them for a sustainable, inclusive future.
View more photos of the project below and on our portfolio page for the Door County Community Center Historic Renovation.
