Quote Originally Posted by DLN View Post
Restoration is a bit of a misnomer, when there is extensive damage, modern building codes will apply. So a lot of the charm of the old building will be gone, water does more damage than fire. i.e. plaster walls and such.
If they could create a gem like this in 1906, it can be restored to the same grandeur as back then. Granted, now you have the opportunity, it's of course wise to implement the latest improvements from the century that passed. Back in 1906 maybe an elevator was not that reliable. There certainly were no internet connections back then.

You can improve a building without losing it's charm. There are countless examples everywhere. Given the raw material the builders were given with the Book-Cadillac was almost a build from scratch, I don't think they missed the mark by improving the building too much.