WE FACED MANY CHALLENGES IN CONVERTING THIS BANAL MASONRY AND STEEL-FRAMED WAREHOUSE TO OUR NEW OFFICES: INTEGRATING (AND PAYING FOR!) A FULL SEISMIC UPGRADE, ALL NEW MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING AND FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, ORGANIZING THE LONG, LINEAR SPACE AND HUMANIZING THE DARK CAVERNOUS "BUTLER BUILDING" INTERIOR, IMPROVING THE INCREDIBLY HOMELY STREET FACADE, AND NOT LEAST OF ALL, SATISFYING THE CITY'S REQUIREMENTS FOR INCREASED PARKING FOR THE NEW OFFICE USE.

THE ORGANIZING PRINCIPLE PROVED TO BE ONE OF SUBTRACTION, WHEREBY WE STRIPPED AWAY THE MASONRY SKIN FROM THE FRONT CORNER OF THE BUILDING IN ORDER TO ADD ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACES TO MEET THE PARKING DEMAND, AND IN SO DOING, CREATE A COMPELLING ENTRY FORECOURT. THE EXPOSED STEEL BENT MOMENT FRAMES ASSUME A DRAMATIC PROFILE, AND WITH THEIR EXPOSED PURLINS BECOME, IN EFFECT, A SOUTH-FACING INDUSTRIAL-GRADE TRELLIS PROVIDING SHADING FOR GLAZING SYSTEMS ALONG A NEW CENTRAL WALL THAT FORMS THE NEW SKIN OF THE BUILDING. THE REMAINING "FIN" OF THE FRONT MASONRY FACADE SHADES THE LOW WESTERN SUN. THE MAIN LOBBY IS MOVED TO CENTER OF THE BUILDING, ACCESSED THROUGH THE AUTO COURT, WITH A LOW ARCHITECTURAL CONCRETE WALL DELINEATING THE PEDESTRIAN PATH FROM THE PARKING.

ARCHITECT: CODY ANDERSON WASNEY ARCHITECTS, INC.
CONTRACTOR: VANCE BROWN BUILDERS
CLIENT: LAMBERT STREET PARTNERS, LLC

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