Nestled in Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn neighborhood and Martin Luther King historic district, the Edgewood Center has been providing permanent affordable supportive housing for nearly 40 years. With this project, Edgewood Center now offers 50 units of supportive housing for people living with HIV/AIDS. The Center includes individual micro-units with private bathrooms and kitchens, shared living spaces, in-house clinic, bike storage, fitness, and community spaces all located around a daylit atrium space that shows off the building structure.
Edgewood Center is comprised of two adjacent historic buildings connected through amenity spaces and shared circulation. The historic buildings at 183 and 187 Edgewood Avenue were constructed by the Coca Cola Company between 1898 and 1904 as a headquarters, bottling facility and chewing gum manufacturing floor. In the 1950’s the roof at 183 Edgewood collapsed and the two upper levels were demolished. To accommodate Edgewood Center’s goals for expansion and to provide additional capacity, the project team conceived of reconstructing these upper two floors and stitching the two buildings back together.
The historic rehabilitation preserved existing character and the design for the new construction captured the spirit of the district utilizing heavy timber and masonry, controlling volume, proportions and rhythm. The project was awarded state and federal approval for Historic Tax Credits in support of the quality of design.
This project prepares the historic building for its next century of life creating a win for affordable housing production, a win for the historic district and a win for historic preservation.
The Melody exemplifies the transformative power of community, collaboration, and compassion as Atlanta’s first “”Rapid Housing”” initiative. Situated in South Downtown near the Garnett MARTA station and the newly constructed Greyhound Station, this innovative project repurposes a former parking lot into a thriving community of 40 micro-units, with 32 ADA-compliant units, all crafted from repurposed shipping containers. Completed in just four months, The Melody is strategically located to ensure residents have access to public transportation and essential services.
Each unit is thoughtfully designed with a bed, private bathroom, and kitchenette, offering residents more than just shelter—a stable foundation for rebuilding their lives. The community includes amenities like a communal garden, dog park, and shared gathering spaces. A community building houses additional amenities such as a kitchenette, offices, and laundry facilities, fostering a sense of belonging among residents.
The Melody represents a holistic approach to addressing homelessness, going beyond traditional housing models by creating opportunities for connection, stability, and reintegration into society. It stands as a model for future affordable housing projects, showcasing the power of public-private partnerships and innovative construction methods in providing equitable housing opportunities.
Named in honor of a woman who tragically passed away from an overdose near the site, The Melody serves as a poignant reminder that housing can be life-saving, reinforcing Atlanta’s commitment to addressing homelessness with dignity and compassion.
The history of the Goat Farm site has, over time, woven a rich tapestry of chaos and order. The task of bringing in 209 apartments and 48 artist studios would necessarily deposit a high concentration of order to the campus. Our design solutions were aimed at balancing that order through shape and form, while not attempting to camouflage the reality of the change, and by creating guides for the chaos that nature will inevitably bring over time.
Ten 5 Summerhill is a new 10-unit townhouse project within the rapidly growing Summerhill neighborhood of Atlanta. The project contributes to the neighborhood’s rich history as the latest addition to its urban revitalization efforts. Occupying a prominent corner lot, it sits at the intersection of Summerhill’s primary commercial thoroughfare and a local residential street, directly across from the main urban park. With a lot of only ¼ acre, the project brings much needed housing density via efficient site planning. In this strategic location, Ten 5 Summerhill serves as a mediation between the commercial core and residential zones of the neighborhood.
The site design emphasizes strong urbanism by prioritizing pedestrian traffic at the street front, while vehicular circulation is placed behind and further away from the corner. The townhouses are distributed across two buildings fronting each street, completing the site corner in an L-shaped orientation to maintain continuity of the urban edge at the intersection. Architectural materiality draws from the surrounding historical context, applied in a refreshed, contemporary manner. Unit plans prioritize spatial efficiency in a slim format to boost residential density and, thus, community vitality. Abundant outdoor spaces are incorporated to fully engage with the natural environment, maximize natural ventilation, and increase both the perceived and usable living space.
Designed for a young professional couple, their teenage daughter and two golden retrievers, the Honabach House is located on a quite residential street in Brookhaven, Georgia. The 1 1/4-acre site slopes down from the street to a small creek at the rear of the property. Mature hardwood trees create a beautiful wooded area over the back half of the site.
The project brief called for a 4-bedroom house, with an open kitchen, dining and living room spaces immediately adjacent to large on-grade outdoor entertainment areas. The brief also called for ample storage and mechanical spaces at the lower level. Working with the natural slope of the land, the design locates the bedrooms on the upper, entry level and the entertainment and storage spaces on the lower, on-grade terrace level. The design creates a 2-story house that appears as a smaller 1-story house from the street.
The upper-level bedrooms are organized into 2 parallel forms running perpendicular to the street. The guest room and a home office are positioned on the street side of the forms, and the main and daughter’s bedrooms are on the opposite sides, offering privacy and expansive woodland views. The space between the 2 parallel forms becomes a “see-through” entry foyer, allowing views through the house to the wooded site beyond.
From the upper-level entry an open light-filled stair leads to large terrace-level entertainment spaces with continuous floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private courtyard space and pool.
“Nami,” meaning “wave” in Japanese, offers an extraordinary dining experience that seamlessly blends culinary artistry with dramatic design. Located within Lake Nona’s Wave Hotel, this intimate restaurant captivates guests from the moment they arrive. The atmosphere is immersive, featuring dim lighting, curated sound, and authentic materials that heighten the senses and enrich the flavors on the plate.
The design of Nami invites guests on a journey, beginning with a tranquil reception area where they are greeted by a host. They then pass through an oversized, pivoting panel that reveals the vibrant dining space, adorned with delicate gold leaf, red-grained woods, and silky Japanese Maple trees. Ethereal murals by Dean Barger provide a striking backdrop, embodying the storytelling tradition revered in Japanese culture.
This transportive design is fundamental to Nami’s success, fostering a sense of escape from reality. Every detail is crafted to evoke the feeling of being anywhere in the world. The windowless environment enhances this immersion, creating a unique atmosphere that draws affluent guests seeking an exceptional dining experience. The concurrent development of the concept and design with the client ensured a cohesive vision, resulting in a sophisticated offering that stands out in Lake Nona and Orlando’s competitive culinary landscape.
The Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman project site is in the Seven Mile Beach area of Grand Cayman Island, a popular destination for both locals and tourists. Although our site is not directly on the water, our primary challenge was to establish a strong connection to the beach.
To achieve this, we elevated the main public areas to create a visual link to the ocean. This level features a detached Lobby Pavilion with a butterfly roof, offering guests panoramic views of the Caribbean during check-in. By raising the second level, we also create a sense of separation from the street and adjacent public park, making the pool and pool deck feel like a private retreat.
The pool itself is divided by a pedestrian bridge, separating the family pool from the adult pool. The adult pool, with its infinity edge, creates the illusion that the water extends to the horizon.
The hotel features 282 guestrooms, all strategically oriented to offer views of either the Caribbean Sea or Governor’s Bay to the east. A key highlight of the hotel is the 3,000-square-foot Roof Bar and terrace, which provides panoramic views of both the sea and the bay. It is the premier spot on the island for enjoying a drink and watching the sunset.
The renovation of Old Hickory Steakhouse at Gaylord Palms is a transformation that redefines upscale dining by adding architectural sophistication to a previously themed and disjointed venue. Spanning 10,000 square feet, this redesign transforms the restaurant into an elegant series of spaces, where the traditional boundaries between indoor luxury and outdoor tranquility blend seamlessly. Previously the venue was composed of separate buildings that felt disconnected from each other and lacked an association to their surroundings. By providing more connectivity through added dining terraces, strategically creating generous wall openings, adding floor-to-ceiling windows, and overhauling the color palette, the restaurant transformed into a cohesive experience, where guests feel nestled in a lush marsh-style landscape.
The heart of the renovated venue is its state-of-the-art exposition kitchen. This culinary showcase is designed to highlight the art of gastronomy, with open displays featuring a curated selection of wine, cheese, charcuterie, dry-aged steaks and views of chefs as they are fully immersed in their craft. This transparent approach not only engages the senses but also enhances the dining experience by making the culinary process an integral part of the ambiance.
The design palette of weathered wood, complemented by soothing green and blue tones, reflects the natural hues of the local Floridian marsh environment, creating a serene atmosphere. The renovation also introduces a private dining room and a 12-seat bar and terrace, providing versatile spaces for a variety of gatherings. Overall, the renovation elevates Old Hickory Steakhouse, merging luxury with a deep, immersive connection to its natural setting.
