Site Assembly, the design and construction firm I worked for prior to starting graduate school, repurposed a former auto body shop and then a former convenience store into two locations of a local restaurant, Brasa Premium Rotisserie. The owner was interested in maintaining a raw, non-polished feel to the spaces, and having them serve as accessible neighborhood meeting points. Our involvement with the project was comprehensive - from site remediation and demolition, through construction and fabrication, to furniture and graphic design.
The two sites are similar in some ways and different in others, but we strove to create a consistent spatial experience in each, to establish a brand and customer expectation. Each location features places to order from a counter with space to stand and chat, and sit-down table areas with full service. The kitchens are similarly laid out to be able to exchange equipment or staff if needed between the locations. Each space exposes as much original building infrastructure as possible, and keeps a consistent palate of materials and colors. We installed similar patio spaces in each, accessible through large overhead glass doors that completely open up in good weather, and provide strong visual access to the interior during wintertime.
In addition to architectural services, we also designed and built all of the interior furniture, counters, and signage. My role throughout the project was to document the existing spaces digitally, collaborate with the chefs and owner in designing the spaces, create demolition, SD, DD and construction documents as well as equipment plans for permit review, and finally to design and help fabricate the tables, counters and all of the interior furnishings. It was an exhausing but rewarding process, one that gave me valuable experience in the design, scheduling and management of a small but comprehensive project. I learned how to thoughtfully interact with strong but underutilized existing buildings. And the food is delicious!
