Restoring a Valparaiso Landmark for a New Generation

For more than a century, the Gardner School Building served as a recognizable part of the Valparaiso community. Originally constructed in 1899 and later repurposed as a Boys & Girls Club facility, the historic structure carried generations of local history before Urschel Development Corporation envisioned a new future for the property through restoration and adaptive reuse.

After decades of partnership with Urschel Development Corporation in manufacturing environments, Tonn and Blank Construction was selected to help bring that vision into the hospitality market through the development of the Grand Gardner Hotel, a 58-room boutique destination in downtown Valparaiso.

The project combined restoration, adaptive reuse, and new construction within a dense neighborhood setting while preserving the architectural character that made the building meaningful to the community.

Project Highlights

• Historic school building originally constructed in 1899
• Boutique hotel featuring guest suites, event space, and rooftop hospitality amenities
• New additions integrated alongside the original Romanesque structure
• Completion targeted for summer 2026

Planning Within the Constraints of History

Adaptive reuse projects require early coordination long before visible construction begins. Existing conditions, historic preservation requirements, structural limitations, and modern building systems all influence planning decisions.

The Gardner School Building remained under oversight from the City of Valparaiso Historic Preservation Commission throughout construction. Tonn and Blank worked closely with Urschel Development Corporation, Ratio Architects, local officials, and trade partners to sequence demolition, restoration, structural reinforcement, and new additions in a way that protected the building’s historic integrity.

The constrained downtown location required detailed logistics planning for deliveries, equipment access, utility coordination, and pedestrian safety throughout construction activities.

One of the more complex phases involved integrating new structural steel within the existing building while preserving original masonry openings and architectural features. During field coordination, the team identified a steel splice condition near a large arched window opening that required immediate redesign coordination between field crews, engineers, and the architect. Resolving the issue early prevented delays to framing and masonry restoration while maintaining the intended historic appearance of the structure.

Craftsmanship that Supports Restoration

Restoration and adaptive reuse projects depend heavily on craftsmanship that can respond to field conditions in real time. Throughout the Grand Gardner Hotel project, Tonn and Blank’s self-perform capabilities played a significant role in maintaining schedule continuity and construction quality.

Custom millwork, detailed wood finishes, and the grand entry staircase required close coordination between construction management and field execution teams. Having experienced craftspeople directly involved in the work allowed decisions to be made efficiently while aligning finished details with the character of the original building.

The project also included restoration of historic masonry, slate roofing replacement, refurbishment of decorative architectural elements, and careful integration of modern MEP systems throughout the facility.

Building Long-Term Value through Adaptive Reuse

The Grand Gardner Hotel represents continued investment in downtown Valparaiso through restoration that supports tourism, economic activity, and community identity. Through adaptive reuse, the project preserves a historic structure familiar to generations of residents while creating a hospitality destination designed for long-term use.

For Urschel Development Corporation, the project expanded a long-standing partnership with Tonn and Blank into a new market sector while maintaining the same disciplined approach to planning, coordination, and execution. For future guests and the surrounding community, the restored Gardner School Building will continue serving as an active part of Valparaiso for decades to come.