Manning

Vision
Two former commercial buildings on DuPont Street, transformed into a single private residence. The architect's intent: preserve the raw character of what existed while building something entirely new behind it, connected by a courtyard that brings the outside in.

Challenge
One structure kept only its exterior brick skin. The other was built from scratch. Every finish detail — windows, reveals, diffusers — had to align across a building where the tolerances left no margin. The linear grills were cast into the concrete foundation before the windows were even ordered. Everything had to be right the first time.

Solution
The window layout was worked out fifteen times before a single frame was ordered. When the laser wouldn't cooperate on site, the team transferred lines using a plumb bob, the same method used to build the pyramids. Every half-inch reveal was maintained over 22 feet, floor to ceiling, without variation.

Result
A house that looks unassuming from the street and opens into something you don't expect: a glass courtyard, a double-height library with 22 feet of glass, and a level of finish that only reveals itself when you start looking closely. A little gem in the city, hidden by design.