TIES

TIES approached U+B looking to restore and renovate components of their iconic WPA built, post-war art deco campus. Our work focused on the redesign and re-purposing of an existing parking garage building, previously being utilized as a repair shop, into a conference and events center.

Re-considered and re-branded, this structure has been successfully adapted to serve as a new conference center and reception space that hosts a wide array of events and seminars throughout the year. Initially presented with a design scheme developed by others, our team looked extensively at the building and surroundings to develop an alternate option that converted the existing maintenance area into the main lobby and entry point to the facility. The advantages of the alternate scheme celebrated the existing building facade while creating a clear sense of entry that had been lost in the original scheme. Other advantages realized through this alternate scheme internalized the elevator and coordinated mechanical systems, saving a considerable sum to the overall project budget.

The project included a catering kitchen, ballroom and a collection of smaller meeting areas throughout the two-story facility. There was a considerable amount a mechanical integration into a previously non-conditioned space and extensive rehabilitation of structural failures and envelope deficiencies. We were able to resolve these challenges with close, continuous and collaborative design with our project partners. Coupled with ongoing cost-estimating and input from the projects general contractor, the project resulted in a celebrated facility remarkably transformed from maintenance and parking garage into a thriving, four-season, event space.