Expansions into adjacent spaces
However, growing doesn’t have to mean moving. With SAB Architects, we helped The Yard Bar + Restaurant expand into the neighboring commercial space, adding a custom staircase and opening up ceilings to connect two multi-level sections into one cohesive room, without losing the feel regulars know it for.
Facades and storefronts
After all, the street is where customers decide to walk in. At Ba Bar on Capitol Hill, we refreshed a 100-year-old building’s facade with new stucco, hand-brushed trim, custom light brackets, and restored chicken-wire glass. Similarly, at the Winston, a classic Capitol Hill apartment building, we restored the exterior entry and rebuilt the back deck. See Exterior Renovations for more.
Custom millwork and details
In short, details make a space feel like it belongs to one business and no other. At The Yard, custom-built Douglas fir booths, ironwork coat hangers, and built-in beer lockers for Beer Club members add character and give regulars a reason to come back.
Preserving Character in Older Commercial Buildings
Many of Seattle’s best commercial spaces are in buildings that are 80 to 100 years old or more. In fact, often the history of the building is the whole point. As a result, we look for what’s worth keeping and work new design around it:
- Exposed brick and timber, like the sandblasted brickwork and wood beams at The Yard.
- Original steel-framed windows, restored at the Pike Street Loft.
- Historic stairs and fixtures, like the Pike Street Loft’s restored spiral staircase.
- Original floors, like the refinished concrete at Olmste(a)d.
- Rare materials, like the salvaged chicken-wire glass at Ba Bar.
