Santa Rosa building undergoes deconstruction

A downtown Santa Rosa, California, building will be carefully dismantled in order to preserve the two structures adjacent to it, a report by the Press Democrat says. The former Hahman Drug Co. will become a courtyard for a boutique hotel once fully deconstructed.

The Hahman Drug Co. building was constructed in 1908 and has two stories, the report says. It is sandwiched between the historic Empire Building and a more modern structure. The interior of the building has been gutted within the few weeks.

Developer Hugh Futrell says the 10-inch thick concrete walls must be cut and carefully removed. Chunks of the ceiling and walls will be removed one section at a time and leave support beams, which will then be removed.

The 1908 Empire Building and the commercial building will undergo extensive renovations and become a 62-unit hotel, the report says. Hugh Futrell Corp., Santa Rosa, and Greystone Hotels, San Francisco, are partnering for the $62 million project. It is expected to be complete in 2018.

The name of the future hotel has yet to be decided, the report says.