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At 2843 Franklin Boulevard in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood, a long-vacant 1860s mansion has been given new life. Known as the Nelson Sanford House, this Italianate gem has been restored into a mixed-use property that now serves as the international headquarters of The Superlative Group, along with new residential apartments and creative gathering spaces. Here’s how our team at Window Universe Cleveland helped bring it back to life.
We were proud to be part of the project by supplying and installing windows throughout the property—including Marvin Ultimate wood windows for the historic mansion, and vinyl windows for the new apartment addition. Our role was to help support the building’s aesthetic legacy while delivering long-term performance and comfort.
Built in 1862 for Nelson Sanford, a successful Cleveland lumber merchant, this home stands as one of the earliest and finest examples of Italianate residential architecture on Franklin Boulevard—a once-grand avenue known as “Millionaires’ Row of the West Side.”
The Nelson Sanford House tells the story of Cleveland’s evolution over more than 160 years. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Franklin Boulevard was lined with ornate homes owned by industrialists and civic leaders. As neighborhoods changed, the mansion was repurposed for public use: it served at different times as a juvenile detention home, nursing facility, school for children with disabilities, and later as part of the Cuyahoga County Archives. For decades, it quietly held documents and stories from the region’s past—even as its own future hung in the balance.
By the early 2000s, the home had fallen into disrepair—its once-stately windows boarded, the trim crumbling, and its presence on the street fading. Yet its architectural bones, civic legacy, and prime location in the Franklin–West Clinton Historic District made it a worthy candidate for renewal.
🧭 Franklin Boulevard, once home to Cleveland’s elite, is now a tapestry of preserved landmarks and revitalized blocks. The Nelson Sanford House sits just blocks from the famed Robert Russell Rhodes Mansion, and contributes to the ongoing revitalization of the city’s historic west side.
This house doesn’t just represent one era—it reflects the changing face of Cleveland itself, from post–Civil War prosperity to modern preservation and adaptive reuse.
Today it stands as a proud contributor to the Franklin–West Clinton Historic District, a corridor known for its architectural richness and layers of civic life.
📚 Learn more from the Cleveland Press Collection archive
While the full restoration involved many teams and disciplines, Window Universe Cleveland was brought in to provide and install new windows across the building.
For the original mansion, the design and preservation teams needed a product that could match the look of the original windows, perform to modern energy standards, and satisfy the Cleveland Landmarks Commission requirements.
That’s why we recommended and installed Marvin Ultimate windows for the historic portion of the property.
When a historic home needs new windows, the challenge isn’t just picking something that looks nice—it’s about finding windows that blend into the architecture so well that no one notices they were ever replaced.
That’s why Marvin’s Ultimate line stood out for this project.
The Marvin Ultimate Window Collection offers:
Real wood interiors with extruded aluminum exteriors for lasting protection for projects that call for the natural or historic beauty that wood windows can provide.
Flexible customization for arched tops, divided lites, and historical proportions. Multiple design options and woods are available to match historical aesthetics and design requirements.
Modern performance upgrades like energy-efficient glazing and tight weather sealing, Ideal for the most demanding projects that require large sizes and top thermal and structural performance.
The ability to meet historic district standards while still fitting modern lifestyles, With extensive opportunities for customization across a wide array of architectural styles and design aesthetics, Ultimate makes any vision a reality.
In a project like this—where the original windows were a defining architectural feature—Marvin allowed us to match the old details closely, while dramatically improving comfort, insulation, and durability for the building’s next chapter.
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These windows helped restore the exterior rhythm of the building while adding energy efficiency and comfort for decades to come.
Today, the Nelson Sanford House serves multiple functions:
International headquarters for The Superlative Group, a global leader in sponsorship valuation and naming rights consulting
Residential apartments in the rear addition
Common spaces including a wine cellar, Irish pub, conference areas, and even attic-level game rooms
In recognition of the sensitive and high-quality preservation work, the project was honored with a Dedication to Preservation Award by the Cleveland Restoration Society.
At Window Universe Cleveland, we regularly work with homeowners in Tremont, Shaker Heights, Lakewood, and Chagrin Falls—neighborhoods where architectural detail and curb appeal are often just as important as performance.
We don’t fabricate custom millwork or perform full window reconstruction, but we do install beautiful, high-performance replacement windows—often with matching interior trim work—in homes where style and legacy matter.
Whether you’re balancing historic design goals with energy savings, or exploring whether wood or vinyl makes more sense for your home, we’re happy to talk through the options.
The Nelson Sanford House continues to turn heads—even years after its renovation. This post by @historicalhomesofamerica received thousands of likes and shares, showing how much this Cleveland landmark still resonates with people across the country.
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Take a look at more of our work on the Projects page, or get in touch to
learn how we can help with a window project in your home.
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Not every window project is as high-profile as the Nelson Sanford House—but the fundamentals don’t really change. We’re always thinking about the home’s character, the materials that make sense, and how to make things last longer and look right.
Working on something like this just reminds us how powerful windows are in shaping how a building feels—especially when they’re the kind of architectural detail people stop and take pictures of.
Whether you’re dealing with preservation requirements, just want to do right by your home’s design, or need help figuring out what makes sense for a unique property, we’re always glad to talk it through.
Here are some questions we often hear from customers working on older or historic homes in Northeast Ohio:
For many of our customers in older homes or design-focused neighborhoods like Shaker Heights, Marvin Ultimate windows strike the perfect balance: real wood interiors, classic details, and energy efficiency—without sacrificing longevity. If matching historical proportions and elevating curb appeal are priorities, they’re a fantastic long-term investment.
Yes—and many of our customers do. Some choose wood for the front of the house or rooms they spend more time in, and vinyl for other spaces to balance cost and performance. We’ll work with you to choose the right materials for each space, without sacrificing design consistency or functionality.
Yes—many historic homes can have their windows replaced, especially when you choose models that match the original appearance. In areas with formal historic designation, you’ll likely need to follow specific guidelines, which Marvin’s Ultimate windows are often designed to meet. If you’re unsure about your local requirements, we can help you navigate them or point you to the right city resources.
It depends on your city and the level of designation. Some areas in Northeast Ohio—like Cleveland, Shaker Heights, or Lakewood—require a certificate of appropriateness or review by a local preservation board. We’re familiar with the process in many of these cities and can help you understand what’s needed before getting started.
Yes, we install matching interior trim as part of many of our projects. While we don’t custom-manufacture trim, we do provide and install trim that complements your home’s style and window design—including wood interior casing and sill options.
Replacement windows are modern units, custom-sized to fit existing openings, and installed with minimal disruption to your walls or trim. Full restoration typically involves repairing or recreating the original wood windows piece by piece. We don’t do full window reconstruction—but we specialize in installing high-performance replacements that preserve the look and feel of your home.
