David Baker Architects utilises "small but mighty" details in brick building conversion

US studio David Baker Architects has used pine wood, polycarbonate panels and steel for the adaptation of a 1900s masonry building into the Wyatt Builds office space in Birmingham, Alabama, USA.

Completed in 2024, the Wyatt Builds space occupies 5,530 square feet (513 square metres) on a half-acre plot and serves as an airy and functional space to hold meetings for the construction company, which also served as the general contractor for the project.

Then, the team did some "selective demolition" to understand the built conditions and preserve as much of the building's original character as possible.

Created for Mary Wyatt, who led the construction company following the death of her husband, the resulting design embodies the client's "strength and resilience balanced with a personal touch," according to David Baker Architects.

"As an office, we always start with two driving questions: Can we use what is here? Can we do more with less?" said Amanda Loper, principal of David Baker Architects, which has offices in California and Alabama.

The studio used LiDAR scanning techniques to capture the existing conditions of the single-story building and convert its hidden quirks to a digital model.

Then, the team did some "selective demolition" to understand the built conditions and preserve as much of the building's original character as possible.

"We opened up the existing windows and removed the opaque film to have some eyes on the street," Loper said, noting that the team replaced the front door and awning, repainted the brick facade and added new lighting and hand-painted signage.

In addition to a new landscape and an accessible path, the "small but mighty" touches revitalised the space, complete with a new vine-filled courtyard.

Upon entry, clients are welcomed into a new entry gallery with soft seating, an open kitchen and gallery spaces.

The entry is centred around a custom steel stair and catwalk that leads to offices and coworking space.

Working with the existing building trusses to drive the plan, the studio organised a large open space between the two rows of offices, known as the Commons. The collaborative space features custom millwork and a large work surface.

The space celebrates the existing materials that served as the foundation of the palette, Loper explained.

After sand blasting the brick walls and cleaning the existing structural terracotta block and concrete slab, the studio "uncovered the warm tone of the brick and discovered some moments of terracotta tile on the floor". The terracotta details were kept, where possible.

Within the build, new pine-wood structures connect with the painted wood of the preexisting structure to divide the space.

"The existing materials are warm, textured and heavy," the studio said.

"We unified the varying ceiling and steel structural components with warm white paint to reflect light around the space."

The wood framing and millwork add warmth, while polycarbonate panels allow for muted privacy and diffused lighting within the offices.

New skylights bring light down into the space, negating the regular use of overhead lights.

"We were able to see the potential and future life of a structure that already existed and transform it into the functional space it is now, mitigating the use of additional resources that would otherwise have been required to build a new structure," Loper said.

Previously, David Baker Architects completed a modular complex to house formerly homeless residents, clad in folded metal perforated panels, and a set of market-rate micro-units clad in black tile – both in San Francisco.

The photography is by Chris Luker.

Project credits:

Architect/interior architect: David Baker Architects
Client/owner: Wyatt Builds
General contractor: Wyatt Builds

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