jOHN GUMM HISTORIC RENOVATION

The historic John Gumm building was built in 1919, and functioned as a schoolhouse for nearly 80 years. In 1999, the building was purchased privately and subsequently sat vacant until Columbia County purchased it in 2021, with the intent to convert it into county offices. The renovation included a new elevator, updates to all systems, and a complete seismic upgrade. The building now includes an auditorium for public meetings, a catering kitchen, office space for Columbia County departments and the Small Business Development Center. The building also houses the Columbia County Historical Museum, and the renovation included design of museum display, lighting, and curatorial storage and work space.

The John Gumm Building is on the National Register, so much care was taken to preserve and protect the historic character and integrity of the building. The team undertook a complete overhaul of all non-historic alterations that took place, and delivered a full interior design package that referenced the building’s history as a school.

This building was in much disrepair, so it was of utmost importance to balance the necessary upgrades with an economical budget. The team worked hard to bring this building up to code, while restoring historic details and selecting a few important places to focus important design concepts - the corridors, auditorium, and museum all have extra attention to detail, and focus craftsmanship in the most public areas of the building.

This project was completed as part of Haley Wallace’s work at Emerick Architects.