Thomas and Nicholas Aglamesis opened their first ice cream parlor, called “The Metropolitan” in Norwood in 1908. They opened their second location in 1913 in the Oakley neighborhood. Around the time of the Depression, the business became known as “Aglamesis Brothers”. A major renovation of the exterior façade took place in 1964.
In 2022, Aglamesis Brothers commissioned Hart Restoration Group, Perry Contracting, and RWA Architects to update the exterior facade of the Oakley store. The building was built in 1913. Phase One included new structural engineering to support the existing masonry facade. Phase Two included replacement of the existing 1964 canopy, storefront window system and doors, exterior lighting, and facade finishes.
The 1964 marble cladding and cast iron trellis elements were removed to allow the original cast iron storefront to be more visible. The 1964 storefront window system was removed and replaced with a new bronze metal frame system and energy efficient glazing. The new simulated divided lights across the transom windows add a more intimate scale to the large storefront. The new doors were made safer by changing them to outswing doors, adding panic hardware, and including half lite windows.
The 1964 curved painted metal canopy was removed and the original cantilevered framing structure was reused for a new traditional shaped marquee with crown moulding and light fixtures to showcase the new Aglamesis logo and color scheme. The logo is framed between two panels with an abstracted ice cream cone patterned motif in the new color scheme. Lastly, the building is still pink, although repainted with a slightly brighter shade of pink.
This store rehabilitation gives new life to a very important landmark business in Oakley Square and Cincinnati. This project was the recipient of a 2024 Cincinnati Preservation Association Award in the “Preservation Excellence – Commercial Project” category.
Member City of Cincinnati Energy Conservation Grant Committee 2010 -2012
Member of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) Cincinnati Regional Chapter
Co-Chair of the Cincinnati AIA Congress of Residential Architecture Committee (CORA), 2005-2007
AIA CRAN AG Chairman 2013, AIA CRAN AG Incoming Chairman, 2012
Founding Member of CRAN KC Advisory Group, 2006 – 2011
Member of the National AIA Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN) advisory committee 2005 – Present
Member of Cincinnati AIA Cincinnati Design Awards (CDA) Committee, 2005-Present
Recipient of AIA Cincinnati Chapter Presidents Award, 2005
American Ground Water Trust Workshop, LEED Platinum Design: A Path to Net Zero Energy Building Considerations in the going the Distance to Net Zero, 2013
Co-presenter of presentation entitled “Are Your Residential Architects Providing (or Finding) Membership Value,” AIA Grassroots, Washington, D.C. 2012
Co-presenter of presentation entitled “Adding Value to Your Members and Dollars to Your Budget through Knowledge Community Connections,” AIA CACE/KLA, Philadelphia. 2011
Served on the Steering Committee for the AIA Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN) 2013 National Symposium, “Elevating the Art of Residential Design & Practice” Santa Fe, NM
Served on the Steering Committee for the AIA Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN) 2012 National Symposium, “Elevating the Art of Residential Design & Practice” Newport, RI
Served on the Steering Committee for the AIA Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN) 2011 National Symposium, “Elevating the Art of Residential Design & Practice” New Orleans
Served on the Steering Committee for the AIA Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN) 2010 National Symposium, “Looking back to Move Forward” Austin, TX
Served on the Steering Committee for the AIA Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN) 2008 Leadership Conference in Minneapolis, “Learning from the Lakers” Minneapolis, MN
Served on the Steering Committee for the AIA Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN) 2007 National Symposium, “Full Spectrum Practice” Chicago, IL
Co-presenter of presentation entitled “Trends and Tools for Custom Residential Architects” at the 2006 AIA National Convention for Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN)
Co-presenter of presentation entitled “What to Look for in Best Practices for Residential Contractors” Congress of Residential Architects (CORA), Reinvention 2005, Coral Gables, FL December 2005
Member of Contemporary Art Center – Present
Member of Cincinnati Art Museum – Present
Docent, Cincinnati Art Museum, 2008 – Present
Member of the Hyde Park Business Association
Member of the Board of Directors for Mercy Neighborhood Ministries, 2007-Present
President of the Board of Directors for Healing Connections Associates, Inc., 2005-2007
Past Member of the Board of Directors for Healing Connections Associates, Inc., 1998-2005
Past Member of the Board of Directors for Chatfield College, 1999- 2005
Past Member of the Mariemont Planning Commission, 1999-2002
Past President and Board Member of Historic Southwest Ohio (HSO), 1990-1996
Participated in a charrette for the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood on January 19, 2008, sponsored by the Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Preservation Association, and AIA Cincinnati. The charrette highlighted design opportunities for in-fill projects within the historic neighborhood. Approximately 120 people attended.
One of six jurors who reviewed spring semester graduate thesis presentations at Miami University Department of Architecture and Interior Design 2015
Juror for the Master’s degree program, SEC Studio, Advanced Building Design, University of Cincinnati SAID, Summer Semester 2017
