Urban Design Group served as architect and historic tax credit consultant for the adaptive reuse of the historic Bernheimer Department Store on W Fayette Street, converting a complex of interconnected structures into a mixed-use multifamily development for workforce and student housing. The project transformed 107 apartment units within seven- and three-story buildings of varying construction types while preserving the majority of the existing exterior and achieving code compliance. The design strategically addressed challenges such as sloping floors and layouts not originally intended for residential use, maximizing natural light and unit count, while ground-floor spaces reinforce a pedestrian-oriented streetscape along W Fayette and creatively accommodate building functions at the rear. By securing historic tax credits and integrating modern residential and commercial uses, the project revitalizes a key downtown corridor, bridging the central business district and providing much-needed housing for workers and students.