The renovation of 4209 Butler Street was undertaken by an ambitious developer/contractor (Botero Development) in close collaboration with mossArchitects. The building had for decades been the Lawrenceville neighborhood’s location of regional dairy and delicatessen outlet, Isaly’s. The building however predated even that occupant, and showed evidence of several layers of renovation. The second floor of the two story building had essentially been abandoned since at least the 1930's where not even a stairway remained.

To create two distinctive, light-filled units on the long and narrow upper floor with its limited street and alley frontages, the existing roof was peeled away in the center and a new third floor was added mid-height between the existing second floor and roof. This was covered in a new butterfly roof that scoops light through fully-glazed ends at the loft bedroom level. Openings between the floors allow the light to be “borrowed” deep into the center of the second floor. The old growth wood rafters salvaged from the roof were reused throughout the project: to frame the new floor level, as flooring and for sliding doors.

At the storefront level, the remnants of the Isaly’s storefront were removed to reveal the original taller storefront opening, and a wood storefront that, like the upper levels, opened and illuminated the interior of the store while providing tenant access to a new stair serving the units above.