Last month marked the opening of Canton's newest gallery in the Arts District: the Joseph Saxton Gallery of Photography.  The owner, Tim Belden, had a vision to transform the A.H. Wilson Building (circa 1909, Canton's first Cadillac dealership) into a state-of-the-art facility that respects the past, as well as embraces the future in its architecture.
 
SoL Harris/Day Architecture was both excited and challenged to assist Tim Belden in restoring the existing building to meet stringent preservation standards and secure Federal tax credits.  This required research and detailing to accurately restore the building, from the exterior storefront design, to interior finish detailing.  

Tim Belden also had a view to the future with regard to the importance of energy conservation.  He has a personal interest in principles of sustainable architecture, and was anxious to pursue LEED initiatives.  H/D's LEED AP's assisted Mr. Belden with selecting materials and mechanical/electrical systems that would meet this criteria.  Some of the innovative strategies used include:
     - an embedded radiant heat system in a new colored concrete floor slab
     - solar panels on the roof to assist with hot water heating
     - a heating and cooling system which incorporates a new variable-flow refrigerant
       mechanical system that has efficiency equal to a geothermal heat system

The project was truly a team effort, involving owner, architect, and contractors to achieve the building's final success.  But the true success of the building is reflected both in Tim Belden's vision for a unique gallery to display his extraordinary photography collection, and his commitment to the preservation of Canton's history.