Pearl Brewery in San Antonio, Texas by Lake|Flato Architects

Article source: Lake|Flato Architects

In 1985, after 118 years of brewing along the San Antonio River, Pearl Brewery closed its doors. In 2002 planning work for the redevelopment of Pearl Brewery into a vibrant mixed-use district began. From the beginning, repurposing the existing inventory of historic building stock (450,000 square feet) was central to the transformation of the 26-acre brownfield site.

Image Courtesy © Casey Dunn + Lara Swimmer

• Architects: Lake|Flato Architects
• Project:  Pearl Brewery
• Location: San Antonio, Texas
• Photography: Casey Dunn, Lara Swimmer
• Owner: Silver Ventures
• Associate Architect: Durand-Hollis Rupe; RVK Architects; ford, powell & carson; WGW Architects
• Engineer – Civil: Pape-Dawson Engineers
• Engineer – Mechanical: Beyer Mechanical
• Engineer – Structural: Danysh & Associates
• General Contractor: Artistic Builders

Image Courtesy © Casey Dunn + Lara Swimmer

The area has become a sustainable destination that reflects the identity of the historic brewery. More than 300,000 square feet of the original building stock have been salvaged and re-purposed. The development has attracted new residents, small businesses, retail, and nonprofits, including educational institutions such as the Aveda Institute and the Culinary Institute of America.

Image Courtesy © Casey Dunn + Lara Swimmer

The conversion of other brownfield sites, such as Portland’s Pearl District or Seattle’s Pike Place Market, inspired a local vision for the Pearl Brewery development. The project first focused on the renovation of the historic Brewhouse and went on to craft an urban experience around it. The Full Goods Warehouse, the first mixed-use building redeveloped at the Pearl, became the incubator for the following phases of the project.

Image Courtesy © Casey Dunn + Lara Swimmer

The remodeled 67,000-square-foot warehouse is a re-interpretation of the building’s industrial past. The original one-story building now features two floors connected by a series of catwalks. The design maximizes density and provides residential and commercial spaces housing local businesses and restaurants. The success of the Full Goods building led to the development of a series of mixed-used buildings throughout the district, which also includes an amphitheater, and a banquet and event hall located in the former Pearl Stable.

Image Courtesy © Casey Dunn + Lara Swimmer

Tags: San Antonio, Texas

Category: Restoration

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