Community, civic & cultural
Our approach to community design starts with simple, but fundamental principles: place people at the centre of the process; focus on fostering public life; measure, listen and optimize; and create a responsive and shared vision.
The Community Performing Arts Center in Kirkwood, Missouri, is envisioned as a beacon of creativity and cultural engagement, anchoring the city’s new downtown Arts & Entertainment District. Designed with a “See and Be Seen” concept, the center seamlessly integrates performance and public gathering spaces, offering a dynamic experience for artists, audiences and the community alike.
At the heart of the 40,000-square-foot facility are two distinct performance venues—a 500-seat main theater and a 200-seat studio space—crafted to host an array of productions, from professional touring shows to community performances and youth programs. The striking architectural form, defined by a robust concrete shell wrapped in glass, creates an interplay between transparency and solidity, offering glimpses into the artistic energy within while projecting an inviting presence to the surrounding cityscape.
The design employs terraced massing to reduce the scale of the structure, fostering an intimate connection to the pedestrian plaza. A two-story glass atrium lobby acts as a glowing lantern, reinforcing the district’s artistic identity and offering a gathering place for pre- and post-event engagement. Acoustically optimized and structurally resilient, the center is a testament to thoughtful design—where performance, architecture, and community intersect to create a lasting cultural legacy.
Community Servings Expansion
BOSTON, MA
A 30,000-SF expansion to an existing non-profit organization’s commercial kitchen facility. Includes expansion of the kitchen space for increased meal production, office space, meeting rooms and classrooms as well as a multi-purpose event space with exterior patio. The site includes herb gardens, rain gardens and a greenhouse. The building celebrates contextual materials, provides a resource for the community and conveys Community Serving’s emphasis on healthy food and healthy space.
Cities & Places: Buildings
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