History
The first project in the Dubuque Millwork District is the CARADCO Building, now known as the Schmid Innovation Center | CARADCO Lofts. The Carr, Adams, & Collier Company (CARADCO) Main Plant Building is a former millwork factory in what was, at one time, the nation’s largest window and door manufacturing district.
The Schmid Innovation Center | CARADCO Lofts fills an entire city block and was built between 1880 and 1906. It’s adjacent to Dubuque’s downtown, walkable, working class neighborhoods. By establishing a vibrant mix of residential, commercial/retail, and non-profit tenants, Schmid Innovation Center | CARADCO Lofts creates the “Sense of Place” that exhibits the qualities of true urbanism — density, diversity, energy, and sociability.
At a Glance
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3 stories plus a lower level
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Occupies an entire city block
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186,000 sq ft
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324 windows
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Manufactured over 30 million doors and 55 million windows
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CARADCO products were used in our nation's White House, West Point Military Academy, Northwestern University, and the University of Iowa, amonth others
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In 1966, company officials estimated nearly half of Dubuque’s downtown buildings displayed CARADCO products
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CARADCO was purchased by Scovill Manufacturing Company in 1968
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In 1976, Scovill moved window manufacturing production to an Illinois plant
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Since 1976, the CARADCO building has been used for many things including warehouse storage, office space, and retail space and was home to a millwork business until 2011.