A Storied Past: Creating Contemporary Retail Spaces in Historic Districts - **AIA approved 1 LU/IDCEC approved 1 CEU***
(Room W179)
29 Mar 18
9:00 AM
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10:00 AM
How does one open up a new location for a contemporary brand in a historic district? How can one update dilapidated structures to today’s standards, merging old aesthetics with modern expectations? And, perhaps most importantly, how does one make sure this location stays within neighborhood guidelines without losing recognizable branding signage and signifiers? Without community involvement, the process may be painstaking. However, if you collaborate with, rather than fight, historic commissions, a compromise can be reached that satisfies all parties, reinvigorating the site and reinforcing brand presence. John Schmid, the restaurant and retail Studio Director, and Celso Rivera, a project manager, at award-winning architecture firm MBH Architects, will discuss their recent work on the Peet’s Coffee & Tea, an established national brand with more than 50 years of its own history in Washington D.C.’s historic Georgetown neighborhood. Using this case study as a jumping off point, attendees will learn about how to work with historical and community groups to reach thoughtful compromises on retail design that actually strengthen brand voice, marrying contemporary design with storied pasts.