When the Children’s Home Society & Family Services approached Nelson, Tietz & Hoye in 1999, its two St. Paul facilities suffered from cramped quarters and severe mold contamination. The international child welfare and adoption agency, formed in 1889, evaluated location options and decided not to move. Nelson, Tietz & Hoye then assembled a team to develop space solutions.

The process was complicated; donations were needed before construction could begin. Since CHSFS had no facility staff, Renee Kirscht of Nelson, Tietz & Hoye accepted the role, spending hours on tasks as diverse as obtaining local government approvals and measuring appliances.

The results communicate CHSFS’s family-friendly vision. A three-story façade with trellises and a pitched roof blends with residences in the neighborhood. Inside, comfortable furniture, a gas fireplace and lower ceilings contribute to a home-like atmosphere.

In CHSFS’s other building, renovations enabled staff to continue using offices separated by brick walls, thus ensuring privacy to clients. An annex with mold was cleaned up and demolished.

"We feel strongly about the value of this organization’s services," says John Tietz of Nelson, Tietz & Hoye, "and we were gratified by the community-wide support and the cooperation among project members."

"We are delighted with the facilities and that the project was under budget and ahead of schedule," says Donna King, president and CEO of CHSFS, "The contributions of Nelson, Tietz & Hoye were key to realizing our vision."

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