Skyway Building & The Nature Conservancy

W.G. Clark’s 21,600 SF renovation of the Skyway Building, built in 1910, began as a shell and core renovation of the three-story Skyway Luggage Building, consisting of a board form concrete shell with heavy timber decks and roof structures. The shell and core work included structural and seismic upgrades, with new concrete and steel shear walls and reinforcement to bring the building up to current seismic codes. The scope also included new energy-efficient windows, a new elevator, electrical, HVAC, and fiber optic connections.

Midway through the shell and core work, the client secured The Nature Conservancy (TNC) as their tenant for the building. We entered into an agreement with TNC to integrate the TI buildout into the shell and core work, and we immediately began working with TNC’s design team to establish the budget and scope for this Class A office space. This allowed us to reduce the construction duration and to get TNC into the new space before the lease in their existing office space expired.

W.G. Clark found a specialty mill that reengineered the existing beams, decking, and timbers, turning them into doors, benches, windowsills, worktables, a reception desk, and decorative features throughout the new space. Repurposing the salvaged wood and heavy timber materials aligned with TNC’s conservancy goals. With the extensive technical upgrades and the focus on preserving elements of the past, the building has a turn-of-the-century ambience in a space designed for today’s business needs.