Bluebird Flats
Bluebird Flats
Renovation of Historic “Motor Mart” Building
SCOPE & SIZE
Renovation of Historic “Motor Mart” Building
130,000 SF
PROJECT DURATION
15 Months
LOCATION
Sioux City, IA
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Motor Mart building was built in 1911 for Bennett Auto Mart and used to provide space to display, repair, and provide parking for automobiles. In 1919, it became known as the Commerce Building when the Sioux City Chamber of Commerce moved its offices to the building.
In 1923, the original roof garden was built and then transformed into an enclosed ballroom in which famous musicians like Louis Armstrong and Lawrence Welk performed.
The century-old Motor Mart building underwent a complete interior and exterior renovation to convert it into a mixed-use space featuring 71 apartments, a fitness center, a penthouse office space, a community room with rooftop patio, and 6 future commercial spaces.
Over the years, the building’s exterior fixtures had fallen into disrepair with missing bulbs and broken sockets. The historic building is now a beacon of downtown Sioux City with 1,600 light bulbs that light up the exterior of the north and west facades.
