In 2004, a partial collapse damaged five floors of the historic Summit Country Day School in Cincinnati, Ohio, after excavation for an adjacent foundation wall undermined the structure. A decade later, a carefully planned rebuild set out to restore the southeast wing in a way that honored the school’s 1888 Georgian architecture while meeting modern performance expectations.

Wells supported the rebuild with a solution for both the structure and the envelope, delivering the strength and durability needed while preserving interior column-free flexibility. Replicating the historic exterior was critical to the client and surrounding neighborhood, making precision and craftsmanship essential from the start. Base panels were manufactured with custom formliners to mirror the stacked stone at the building’s foundation. Above, three levels of embedded thin brick aligned seamlessly with the existing facade, while the top floor featured inwardly curved panels, a pronounced lower cornice, and a traditional mansard form that completed the historic profile.