“A great street building that shapes a portal to the courtyard garden world behind. In terms of the adaptive reuse and new addition, it is almost impossible to perceive where one stops and the other begins.”
— Monica Chadha, AIA
Location Austin
Clients Baldridge Architects, VL Austin
Architect/Contractor Baldridge Architects
Design Team Burton Baldridge, AIA, Andres Moguel
Mechanical + Plumbing Engineer Arete Engineering
Electrical Engineer Lloyd Engineering
Landscape Architect Collaborative Workshop
Three semi-connected 1961 storefront structures along a principal commercial artery have been reimagined into offices for the architect-owner and leasable office space for the firm’s potential future expansion. Working with a nuanced white plaster exterior, the architects retained the distinctive shadow-block exterior where possible. They also preserved the floors and structure but installed a new roof, continuous exterior insulation, interior cavity insulation that exceeds code, and an efficient mechanical system with an outdoor air intake unit. On the interior, low ceilings are offset by bright finishes, nuanced lighting, and a design that breaks the space down into warm residential nests.