Featured Project: True Standard Distillery
True Standard Distillery
Bates Architects, LLC
Frederick, MD
A Spirit Reborn: True Standard Distillery Breathes New Life into a Century-Old Structure
Located at 10 N. Carroll Street in the heart of Frederick, Maryland, the newly opened True Standard Distillery is more than a production facility and tasting room—it’s a carefully orchestrated act of architectural preservation and adaptive reuse. The project, led by Bates Architects, transforms a long-neglected early 20th-century industrial building into a vibrant destination that merges craft with community.
Originally constructed in 1922 and expanded in 1947, the building's history runs deep. The site traces its roots to the late 1800s, when it served as a blacksmith and wagon repair shop for Frederick County’s early farming community. Over the decades, the structure evolved with the times—transitioning into an automotive service garage and filling station—before eventually falling into disuse. By the time True Standard Distillery acquired the property, it was in significant disrepair and considered by many to be a candidate for demolition.
Historic Photo. Photo Credit: Unknown
Drone View. Photo Credit: © Bates Architects
Determined to preserve the character and legacy of the site, the distillery partnered with Bates Architects and a team of consultants to assess the feasibility of saving the structure. What they discovered was both daunting and promising: while the multi-wythe masonry walls exhibited areas of significant deterioration and shifting, and the interior structural systems were no longer viable, the core of the building could be stabilized—if approached with ambition and precision.
Existing Conditions Interior. Photo Credit: © Bates Architects
Façade Demo Construction. Photo Credit: © Bates Architects
The design and engineering team proposed a bold solution: insert a new steel structural frame within the existing brick envelope. This internal skeleton would not only support a new roof structure and second floor but also brace and preserve the original masonry walls. Given the site constraints, the trusses were engineered for erection from within the building itself—a logistical and structural challenge that the team met with ingenuity.
Truss Assembly Construction. Photo Credit: © Bates Architects
The project’s location within the City of Frederick’s Historic Preservation District required close collaboration with the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). Selective demolition and restoration efforts, including the stabilization of the brick façade, restoration of original windows, and installation of a new standing seam metal roof, received unanimous HPC approval. During demolition, the original blacksmith's forge was uncovered and meticulously preserved—a subtle yet powerful nod to the building’s earliest use.
Unexpected challenges continued to emerge as the structure was peeled back. One of the most critical discoveries came during the removal of the roof and interior columns: the front façade was found to be structurally unsound. An emergency demolition permit was secured, and the team carefully cataloged and salvaged the brick, windows, and architectural details, all of which were reincorporated into the reconstructed façade with remarkable fidelity.
True Standard Distilling Exterior. © Jeffrey Sauers, CPI Productions
True Standard Distilling Interior. © Jeffrey Sauers, CPI Productions
Inside, the design strategy respects the industrial DNA of the building while elevating it through material honesty and refined detailing. Exposed brick walls were cleaned, repointed, and left raw, while new steel elements and mechanical systems were celebrated as part of the aesthetic. The tasting room and distilling areas reflect the True Standard Distillery brand—an elegant balance of craftsmanship, heritage, and modern utility.
True Standard Distilling Tasting Room. © Jeffrey Sauers, CPI Productions
The project has already received significant recognition, earning the Frederick County Building Industry Association’s 2024 Award of Excellence in the Design & Architecture Division for Best Commercial Project. More than just a distillery, True Standard is a testament to what’s possible when vision, preservation, and thoughtful design align.
Bates Architects, LLC is an Architectural Firm Annual Partner of AIA Potomac Valley.
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