12 minute read
Special Spaces
SPACES SPECIAL BY ADAM BAILEY
Open ceilings, exposed brick, cement floors—with pen ceilings, exposed brick, cement floors—with more parking for bikes than cars. Don’t forget more parking for bikes than cars. Don’t forget to add an oversized slide or a ping-pong table. No, it’s not the warehouses or art galleries that No, it’s not the warehouses or art galleries that downtown Shreveport has long been known for. Rather, a wave of office projects that double as adaptive renovations wave of office projects that double as adaptive renovations of historic commercial buildings that is now fueling the of historic commercial buildings that is now fueling the growth of creative space in downtown Shreveport. growth of creative space in downtown Shreveport.
Ask yourself this. Why shouldn’t an office space be just Ask yourself this. Why shouldn’t an office space be just as comfortable as someone’s living space? It is, after all, as comfortable as someone’s living space? It is, after all, the 21st century, and employers are becoming softer with the 21st century, and employers are becoming softer with their office policies, allowing workers to add their own their office policies, allowing workers to add their own special touches to their workspace environment. Think special touches to their workspace environment. Think about it—over the past 15-20 years, workspace design has undergone seismic changes since the halcyon days of the suburban corporate office park. In 2022, the open-floorsuburban corporate office park. In 2022, the open-floorplan office is the gold standard as the workplace arrange plan office is the gold standard as the workplace arrangement du jour. Never before have former factories, ware ment du jour. Never before have former factories, warehouses and other fringe urban spaces been getting turned into modern offices at breakneck speeds. And, yes, even into modern offices at breakneck speeds. And, yes, even here in downtown Shreveport. here in downtown Shreveport.
From the 1990s through the early 2000s, office complexes From the 1990s through the early 2000s, office complexes on Youree Drive and Line Avenue long overshadowed the on Youree Drive and Line Avenue long overshadowed the
‘standard’ office-type development within Shreveport. ‘standard’ office-type development within Shreveport.
However, starting as early as the 2010s, a resurgence be However, starting as early as the 2010s, a resurgence began in historic building renovations in the downtown area gan in historic building renovations in the downtown area which started altering the current development cycle. which started altering the current development cycle.
From an old, gutted paint-and-wallpaper shop to a gro From an old, gutted paint-and-wallpaper shop to a grocery store to an oilfield equipment business—unique office cery store to an oilfield equipment business—unique office spaces are making it fun to go to work each day by creating spaces are making it fun to go to work each day by creating an environment that is reflective of the business’ owners, an environment that is reflective of the business’ owners, as well as inviting for their clients and customers. as well as inviting for their clients and customers. Take a
look at these three adaptive reuse projects that show how look at these three adaptive reuse projects that show how a little creativity can reinvent any space. Kevin Bryan, Architect—712 Texas Street
In 2012, architect Kevin Bryan personally began witnessing In 2012, architect Kevin Bryan personally began witnessing the transformation of Shreveport’s downtown core when the transformation of Shreveport’s downtown core when he bought a building on Texas Street. “People like histor-he bought a building on Texas Street. “People like histor ic buildings with character that don’t seem generic,” says ic buildings with character that don’t seem generic,” says
Bryan. “They have authenticity. There’s a story about the Bryan. “They have authenticity. There’s a story about the building, and always a fun place to work at.” The building, building, and always a fun place to work at.” The building, which now serves as his architectural studio/office, was a which now serves as his architectural studio/office, was a former paint-and-wallpaper shop. former paint-and-wallpaper shop.
Masterminded himself, this office renovation is a classic Masterminded himself, this office renovation is a classic example of a revamped-and-adaptive, 90-year-old build example of a revamped-and-adaptive, 90-year-old building. Elements of the original structure are visible throughout—as in the exposed-brick walls, steel columns and ex-out—as in the exposed-brick walls, steel columns and ex posed floors—all living in harmony with a new storefront, posed floors—all living in harmony with a new storefront, industrial-sized fans, and other modernized touches.
There is even room for people watching, as Bryan puts it, There is even room for people watching, as Bryan puts it, as the inside office space seamlessly extends onto a cov as the inside office space seamlessly extends onto a covered patio and allows for great viewing of any downtown ered patio and allows for great viewing of any downtown street festival (i.e., Louisiana Film Prize). For Bryan, the street festival (i.e., Louisiana Film Prize). For Bryan, the trick was going beyond formulaic design features to focus trick was going beyond formulaic design features to focus on how the space is used. on how the space is used.
Wieland Construction—528 Commerce Street
In the case of Wieland Construction’s downtown office building, Bryan’s team decided to pay homage to the original Santa Maria Produce Store that the building once housed. “It’s not just about the architectural details,” Bryan noted. “It’s about making them relevant.” Wieland’s new office was a renovation of one of Shreveport’s oldest buildings, and is located only one block from Shreveport’s downtown Riverfront. The building sat vacant for many years and formerly housed Sci-Port before their expansion into the new, much larger facility on Clyde Fant Parkway. Bryan worked extensively with Wieland in documenting the existing space and developing a floorplan, material layout and various furniture arrangements in order to ensure their new office would utilize the open floorplan they wanted, without hindering the capacity for individual workspaces to feel private. All of these design considerations were balanced against ensuring that the building’s historic characteristics were left intact and celebrated where possible—such as the salvaged 1960’s mural of John F. Kennedy that was discovered behind an old shaft wall, or the uncovered original fixtures from the grocery which are now used to hang coats and hard hats. An old bar area from the building’s days as Jodie’s Place was transformed into a coffee bar and kegerator (with beer on tap) for
after hour socials and other community events, such as the monthly Artwalk, on which Wieland is a regular stop. Charley Kingery, the senior business development manager for Wieland’s Shreveport office, said the open-office concept was inspired by their national headquarters in Lansing, Michigan. “There are no doors, basically, and we find that it creates a more collaborative work space,” he said. “You can reach the person and visit with them easily in a space right by each other, and you can have privacy when needed in our quiet rooms.” When the staff needs a little break from the grind, they can play a few rounds of ping-pong on the pingpong table located in the front of the office space. “How do you take care of these historic buildWieland Construction—528 Commerce Street ings and move it into this century?” Bryan asked while critiquing his Wieland-renovation project. “Part of that is to embrace the past while designing for the future—and to do that you often need to take the project to its bones and expose it all. Then, and only then, you’re able to give the modern workforce the creative space they’re looking for.”
Vintage Design Group and iArchitecture —two separate architect firms that share the same office space on Lake Street—have an oversized big orange slide beside the stairs in their office space (as well as a convertible conference room which was converted from two large garage doors). “Everyone that has come in seems to like the space. Some are more amused than others,” says Jeff Spikes, principal architect of iArchitecture. “The reason for the slide was basically to set our tone. It’s just part of what makes it a neat place to work. I wanted everyone to feel like it’s their space and to be comfortable and at ease because I feel like a tense workplace is an unproductive workplace.” “It’s definitely an attention-getter. It’s definitely unique,” adds Jason Cram, architect and owner of Vintage Design Group. “I was hesitant about it to begin with, but it’s paid for itself just in the attention it’s received.”
Wieland’s new office was a renovation of one of Shreve Clyde Fant Parkway. Bryan worked extensively with Wieland in documenting the various furniture arrangements in order to ensure their new hindering the capacity for individual workspaces to feel pri vate. All of these design considerations were balanced against ensuring that the building’s historic characteristics were left intact and celebrated where possible—such as the salvaged an old shaft wall, or the uncovered original fixtures from the grocery which are now used to hang coats and hard hats. An formed into a coffee bar and kegerator (with beer on tap) for after hour socials and other community events, such as the monthly Artwalk, on which Wieland is a regular stop. Charley Kingery, the senior business development manager for Wieland’s Shreveport office, said the open-office concept was inspired by their national headquarters in Lansing, Michigan. “There are no doors, basically, and we find that it creates a more collaborative work space,” he said. “You can reach the person and visit with them easily in a space right by each other, and you can have privacy when needed in our quiet rooms.” When the staff needs a little break from the grind, they can play a few rounds of ping-pong on the pingpong table located in the front of the office space. “How do you take care of these historic buildings and move it into this century?” Bryan asked while critiquing his Wieland-renovation project. “Part of that is to embrace the past while designing for the future—and to do that you often need to take the project to its bones and expose it all. Then, and only then, you’re able to give the modern workforce the creative space they’re looking for.”
Vintage Design Group and iArchitecture —two separate architect firms that share the same office space on Lake Street—have an oversized big orange slide beside the stairs in their office space (as well as a convertible conference room which was converted from two large garage doors). “Everyone that has come in seems to like the space. Some are more amused than others,” says Jeff Spikes, principal architect of iArchitecture. “The reason for the slide was basically to set our tone. It’s just part of what makes it a neat place to work. I wanted everyone to feel like it’s their space and to be comfortable and at ease because I feel like a tense workplace is an unproductive workplace.” “It’s definitely an attention-getter. It’s definitely unique,” adds Jason Cram, architect and owner of Vintage Design Group. “I was hesitant about it to begin with, but it’s paid for itself just in the attention it’s received.”
Cram believes that every space in downtown Shreveport has potential—and just because you can’t envision what can be done with an empty industrial building, historic landmark, or blighted parking garage right off the bat doesn’t mean it won’t work for a new use, whether it’s retail, office, hospitality, or something else unique. Both Cram and Spikes agree that their unique approach to their office’s design, along with the tenant mix along Lake Street, showcased the full glory and potential of the office market in downtown Shreveport. According to Spikes, the marketplace that has been created on Lake Street—The Sanctuary Arts School and Glass Studio, The Agora Borealis, Good Granoly and, of course, iArchitecture and Vintage Design Group—is a thriving hub where local entrepreneurs get ample opportunity to set up their business and thrive. “The best thing about Lake Street is that seems to be a block-long guild of like-minded business owners,” says Spikes. “Every one of them are generation-X’ers who all get along and have fun.” Clearly, there is a sense of pride and accomplishment in what the downtown market is slowly (but surely) evolving into—especially when it comes to the renovation of old, historic buildings. Cram added, “All occupants in downtown should feel a sense of pride and accomplishment in what this microcosm of maker spirit on Lake Street provides to the community.” He defines the rejuvenated aesthetic of downtown Shreveport’s ‘unique’ office spaces as a “sense of chaos,” but in the most delightful way. “Just walk down
Cram believes that every space in downtown Shreveport any street in downtown. Turn the corner and see what you’ll has potential—and just because you can’t envision what can find,” he said. “To Shreveport’s delight, it’s rarely the same be done with an empty industrial building, historic land experience from one adaptive-reuse project to the next.” mark, or blighted parking garage right off the bat doesn’t hospitality, or something else unique. Both Cram and Spikes agree that their unique approach to their office’s design, along with the tenant mix along Lake Street, showcased the full glory and potential of the of fice market in downtown Shreveport. According to Spikes, the marketplace that has been created on Lake Street—The alis, Good Granoly and, of course, iArchitecture and Vin tage Design Group—is a thriving hub where local entrepre neurs get ample opportunity to set up their business and Spikes. “Every one of them are generation-X’ers who all Clearly, there is a sense of pride and accomplishment in what the downtown market is slowly (but surely) evolving toric buildings. Cram added, “All occupants in downtown should feel a sense of pride and accomplishment in what this microcosm of maker spirit on Lake Street provides to the community.” He defines the rejuvenated aesthetic of downtown Shreveport’s ‘unique’ office spaces as a “sense any street in downtown. Turn the corner and see what you’ll find,” he said. “To Shreveport’s delight, it’s rarely the same experience from one adaptive-reuse project to the next.”
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