This project involved building out an alcove with a cathedral ceiling on an existing second-floor sitting room.
The owners were long-time residents who loved their home, but wanted to enhance its flexibility and usability. They wanted an open and airy alcove that would better connect the interior with the backyard, and allow them to enjoy the view of surrounding nature.
While simple to describe, execution of this project was extensive and complicated. To create the alcove above the main floor required extensive structural alterations.
The room below needed to be disassembled in order to create temporary and permanent structural enhancements. A custom-manufactured steel H beam was carefully designed and built to integrate into the existing brick wall, and connect to support posts installed in the existing interior walls. This involved precise measurement and planning months in advance, in order to order and fabricate the steel framing.
Temporary supports were installed to hold up the rest of the roof while it was opened up and the support beam was dropped in. A separate support beam was also installed above the new opening to support the remainder of the brick exterior wall. Finally, a separately fabricated steel beam was installed to support the cathedral ceiling of the new alcove.
Once structural work was completed, interior finishing of both the alcove and the room below was possible. The result was an open and inviting sitting area with plenty of light, and windows that provide extensive views of the natural beauty of the backyard.