good intentions

Phillips Sekanick Architects transformed the historic former Kinsman Town Hall in Kinsman, Ohio, into Good Intentions Market & Cafe, creating a distinctive farm-to-table restaurant and local market through the adaptive reuse of a nearly 150-year-old community landmark. Built in 1874, the severely deteriorated structure had a failing stone foundation, dirt floor, and significant exterior deterioration when the project began.

Preserving the historic building required an extensive structural restoration. The entire structure was carefully lifted so a new foundation and floor system could be constructed beneath it, while the roof and building envelope were repaired to protect the original architecture. Historic exterior siding and trim were retained where possible, and salvaged materials were creatively incorporated into the renovated interior. Phillips Sekanick Architects then integrated contemporary mechanical, electrical, kitchen, and building systems within the historic shell, creating a bright, open, and welcoming restaurant and market environment.

The restoration earned the 2021 AIA Ohio Design Awards People’s Choice Award for Small Projects, recognizing Phillips Sekanick Architects’ work on the 2,800-square-foot project. Visitors also praised the transformation, with one describing the space as “meticulously updated” and “really gorgeous.” Red Basket Farm owner Floyd Davis later said of the restoration, “They did it right when they refurbished that building.”

The former Good Intentions project demonstrates Phillips Sekanick Architects’ experience in historic preservation, adaptive reuse, restaurant architecture, and the rehabilitation of historic buildings, giving a deteriorating Kinsman landmark a renewed purpose while preserving an important piece of Trumbull County history.