Location:
Providence, Rhode Island
As design architect, we developed the program, shepherded the design through the Historic District Commission process and assembled the team for the renovation of this existing concrete block masonry building. We added a second story and planned for a fully electrical building powered by solar panels on the roof. The existing asphalt parking lot is to be transformed into a terrace and gardens, and the second story incorporates a rooftop garden. One enters a contemporary gallery space, and progresses through a paneled library space, ascending to an airy, light-filled second floor where each room has a different vibe: from Moroccan bath to Scandinavian birch minimalism to Louis XIV salon.
The exterior expression is meant to evoke the feeling of a civilized urban building, like a club in London or New York. The small balconies with their plantings provide a welcoming feeling both inside and out. The spaces are meant to be an oasis in the city.
The program includes a gallery space, a library, offices and large and small meeting rooms. Skylights will punctuate the staircase as well as a common area. The metal windows and doors allude to Parisian buildings, as does the façade expression.
Related Projects
RI Monthly: 2023 Gold Design Award – Commercial Renovation
Lit Arts RI
A quiet co-working space in an industrial building near the train tracks in Providence. The challenge was to provide different types of comfortable spaces and seating for writers, from extroverts who like a bit of noise to those who require silence and a studious environment. There is also a podcasting space which requires sound dampening and other acoustic conditions, as well as a Training Room, a Conference Room and two telephone rooms for zoom calls. We created a collection of rooms with good acoustic isolation from one another and quiet ventilation and air conditioning. Each space has a unique character using color, art, wallpaper and murals as well as custom cabinetry. The main space has a custom office for the organization’s managers, which features display shelving for local authors’ books. The “Quiet Car” (named in honor of the proximity to the Amtrak line) has custom writing nooks with shelving and sit-to-stand desks to allow flexibility in seating.