Dealing with any centenarian building presents a host of challenges. VIA removed an old elevator that had been installed in the 1940s that opened inside the very entrance to the building, a barrier to the open floor plan she envisioned. While installing a new one toward the back of the building, and digging a deep hole in the basement to make it work, Phaneuf stumbled upon a pleasant surprise: the building was constructed on significant piles, perhaps explaining why the exterior masonry lacked any cracks.