This mid-1940s industrial building is a contributing resource within the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic District and reflects the area’s industrial growth and the economic achievements of Atlanta’s Black working- and middle-class community. Originally constructed as a garage, the building later housed the Keen-Edge Company for over 50 years and expanded over time to support its operations.  Rehabilitated using historic tax credits for the National Center for Race Amity, the project introduced seminar, office, and gallery spaces with minimal alteration to the historic floor plan. Structural deficiencies required partial reconstruction of the 1961 mezzanine, allowing for the creation of an atrium while retaining original wood flooring and open industrial ceilings. On the exterior, historic concrete masonry walls were cleaned and repaired, multi-light steel windows were restored or replaced in-kind, and roof and drainage issues were corrected. This project demonstrates how modest industrial buildings can be successfully rehabilitated into productive spaces for modern use. 

Excellence in Rehabilitation Awards recognize projects that make compatible use of a building through repair, alterations or additions while preserving features of the property that convey its historic value.