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“At the turn of the century, Hot Springs, Ark., was a world-class resort. People from all over the country flocked there to take the natural hot springs mineral baths and to drink the water, which was said to cure various ills such as rheumatoid arthritis and bursitis.”After years of neglect and sporadic cosmetic surgery, buildings in this quaint town are now starting to receive...

The Learning Institute, formerly known as the Hamp Williams Building, is an Italian Renaissance Revival style building located across from the Garland County Courthouse. It was the first Ford Dealership in Hot Springs and one of the fi st in the state. The building was built in three stages, beginning in 1920 and ending around 1926. Williams was a state senator who ran unsuccessfully for governor and in...

Restoration Of MoPac Depot Multi-Modal Transit Facility The City of Hot Springs purchased a 12.5-acre tract for a new Transportation Plaza in 1992. In 1995 the City bought the MoPac Depot and hired Taylor/Kempkes Architects for a three phase planning and development project. Phase I included planning and building for a Multi-Modal Transportation Facility as well as the remodel and restoration of the historic...

RENOVATION OF FORMER HOT SPRINGS POST OFFICE After years of vacancy and neglect The Old Post Office Building had fallen into severe disrepair. Exterior restoration began with a thorough chemical cleaning of the building. Masonry was repaired and tuck-pointed matching original mortar colors. A basement entry ( added in the 1960′s ) which cut through the granite retaining wall and a window were filled...

The Quapaw Bathhouse on National Historic Landmark District Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs, Arkansas is a 24,000 sq.ft. Spanish Colonial structure originally constructed in 1924. In 2007 Taylor/Kempkes, Architects’ principal’s Anthony Taylor and Bob Kempkes partnered with two others to lease, rehabilitate and operate the structure as a bathhouse and spa. The building is designed to LEED Silver and updated with 21st century features...

Safe, affordable housing is perhaps the most needed building type in the world at the present time. We have worked with several clients to turn abandoned historic structures into clean, safe, affordable apartment buildings. Most of these projects utilize both Historic Rehab Tax Credits and Low Income Housing Tax Credits in order to make the projects financially feasible. The impact on a neighborhood is...