Pearl District Office

Owner: Mahlum
Scope: 10,000 SF
Notable: Winner of multiple architecture and interior design awards

Taking cues from the history of the building, the design focuses on the structural order of the existing warehouse and uses it to support the firm’s collaborative, team-based approach. The space relies on intersecting grids of circulation for organization with clear termination of volumes. Pairs of windows added to the east wall allow natural light to pierce the space. Perpendicular to the studio space, public spaces occupy the building’s prominent corner. The visible street level location and large loading dock opening with new steel doors encourage engagement with the neighborhood. Details reflect the context. Industrial materials are transformed just as the community changes. Belting leather is fashioned into a reception desk, hardboard is laminated to make countertops, salvaged steel plates are detailed into flooring, and patinated sheet steel is fabricated into doors and shelving.