Employee Spotlight

Matthew Owen, P.E., joined Silver Creek Engineering in 1999. Today he is an owner and officer, as well as a Senior Professional Engineer. Although Matt's resume carries many examples of his work with historic structures, there is one outstanding project that is not listed. That's the 19th century schoolhouse that he and his wife, Katherine, spent more than a year transforming into their home.

Matt has an appreciation for historic structures that extends well past office hours. He and his wife Katherine purchased this 1891 school building with the intention of turning it into their home. They acted as contractors, architects, and much of the manual labor. Key upgrades include new aluminum high-insulation windows and a state-of-the-art HVAC system. Exterior work involved new roofing for the main schoolhouse building and a lot of masonry patching.

The interior renovations included furring out the masonry walls, installing insulation and drywall, and repairing masonry issues. Original oak floors were sanded and refinished. The 14' ceiling height adds a loftiness and grandness to the former schoolhouse. A new kitchen was created from recycled materials, including the island's granite countertop, salvaged from a downtown Indianapolis building that was recently reclad. Whenever possible, Matt and Katherine furnished their home with vintage appliances and furnishings that enhance the home's historic appeal.

Employee Spotlight

The schoolhouse at the time of purchase

The schoolhouse today

Scroll down for more pictures

The old . . .

the new . . .

and the crew.

There were lots of holes to patch . . .

masonry to repair . . .

nails to pull . . .

and a roof to fix.

New walls divided the existing rooms into traditional living areas.

Kitchen cabinets were acquired from various sources and custom finished.

Insulation and drywall was installed.

The refinished floor is on the left and the original is on the right.

The old fireplace . . .

gets a new look.

The only bathroom at the time of purchase was in the garage.

The new version is much nicer
-- and it's inside the house!

A key upgrade is the new HVAC system. A geo-exchange heat pump works during winter or summer, providing an efficient and inexpensive way to heat this old masonry building. The heating is distributed by a thermal radiant floor system using PEX tubing installed between the original wooden floor joists.

The two entry doors, one for each classroom, are a reminder of the home's origins.

A cozy living area

A sleeping loft above the doorway in the guest room makes creative use of high ceilings.

Matt and Katherine created these custom light fixtures which are shown here with the primer coat.

A typical 5 panel interior door with a transom overhead.

Tall windows and high ceilings accent the master bedroom.

An apron farmhouse sink, cherry butcher block counters, and reclaimed cabinets were a cost-effective way to make the kitchen fit the context.

At the center of the kitchen is a handmade island with recycled granite and a vintage stove.

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