This adaptive reuse project converts a landmarked building that was previously used as a coffee manufacturing facility. The project captures Houston at a compelling moment: the industrial context of the building connects it of the commercial history of the city, while the environmental, social, and cultural redevelopment of the Second Ward anticipates the city’s future. Add into the equation a landmarked building with an inordinate amount of structure and limited options for modification; the solution that emerged must be a product of preservation and ambitious modification of the existing structure.

The program included a variety of uses: a Latin American Art Center with education, public programs, performance and exhibition spaces; a K-5 Charter school with outdoor space; an additional, separate contemporary art museum/ gallery program; a destination coffee house/ wine bar; and office space for nonprofit or technology tenants.

The existing building presented a paradox: to manage the construction budget over such a large building the scope of the work must be limited, while from a development perspective the complex must be transformed completely. With the requirement that the exterior of the building remain intact, we identified subtraction of existing structure as the primary architectural strategy, creating voids in the existing dense structure. The challenge was to make these subtractions add up: we aggregated small, precise cuts in the existing structure to create light wells that bring daylight through to the ground level. We feel this can be accomplished by removing only 7% of the existing floor and roof area: a 7% solution.

Test fits were used to assess appropriate zoning for the programs, given temporal, acoustical and security issues. The need for outdoor play space and student drop off suggests the school program located to the west. Public programs would remain on a single level, organized adjacent to a multifloor entry space reaching to the roof structure. The adjacent 1990s warehouse was proposed as the venue for the second museum program as it can be more easily improved for climate control.