First Of Its Kind In Sioux Falls

Placed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing structure in the Old Courthouse and Warehouse District, the 1909 O.S. Jones Seed Co. structure is located at 421 N Phillips Ave. in downtown Sioux Falls. It is constructed entirely of cast-in-place concrete, structural clay tile and brick, making it a unique structure from which to carve modern spaces. For many years it served as the area’s fallout shelter,

Renovations retain much of its industrial character exposing concrete walls columns, and beams, as well as some of the leftover graffiti on the 2nd and 3rd floor condominium walls. An adjacent building burned to the ground where the new courtyard offers privately owned public space to enhance the growing downtown live/work environment.

The shape of the development and exterior materials were designed to continue the rhythm of the downtown streetscape. Brick with quartzite accents clad the addition while the courtyard back wall has the appearance of being the third structure separating new and old with a porcelain tile and glass exterior face. The new 4th floor over the existing building and penthouses have metal panel and glass exteriors, accompanied by rooftop terraces and gardens. Easements were created to allow the addition of exterior balconies which cross the zero-lot-line property boundaries. Each unit has one or two of these overlooking courtyard activities or any space below the building except at the front over Phillips Ave.

The market retail spaces are intermingled with common areas and furniture to encourage wandering through the 1st floor during lunches or happy hour, overhead signage identifies each space and is repeated at the exterior of the building. The courtyard is an extension of the common area and features a bocce ball court and raised planters of Aspen Trees to help provide additional privacy for the courtyard facing condo windows and balconies. Residents talk to each other across the courtyard from their balconies, and listen to live music featured during the summer months shared with passerby lured in a cool drink and a meal.

The light filled condominiums are simple and modern. Window proportions mimic the historic allowing natural light deep into the generous living spaces. Existing building fabric remains exposed where possible and creates a unique industrial interiors experience.

On the residential floors, art niches were designed into curving walls to avoid a dead-end appearance in the u-shaped circulation path through the building.