Ames Shovel Works

Once home to Ames Shovel Shops, which at one time produced 60 percent of the world’s shovels, this historic 19th century industrial complex consists of seven granite buildings constructed between 1852 and 1885. The buildings were converted into 113 apartment units, but the challenge was that each building was a different size and layout. Universal was able to accommodate the varying window sizes by adapting their 400 Series to comply with the rigorous guidelines of the National Park Service and help owner Beacon Communities achieve LEED certification. (Listed on the National Park Service National Register of Historic Places).