An Afternoon of Decision Making

What is not often discussed in architecture is how many hours are spent at your desk sitting behind a computer. But every so often, the office gets a little treat when samples are delivered. On this particular occasion, the office got to partake in choosing a tin ceiling pattern for the second floor of our award winning 2801 Welton project.

Studio K2 and Star Mesa Development have been in the works of renovating and restoring this 120 plus year old two story building. The first floor of this historic building will accommodate a restaurant featuring a steampunk interior design. With construction underway for the restaurant, the second floor is to become home to a real estate office. The goal for the second-floor office space was to faintly mimic the first-floor ambience while keeping with the historic characteristics naturally provided by the structure. Thus, the rustic, and simultaneous industrial, aesthetics of a tin ceiling became a clear fit. This just left the question of what type of pattern best represents the concept?

After looking through a handful of samples, the choices were narrowed down to four patterns. With our excitement growing from the chance to stretch our design opinions (and our legs), the decision was made to install the four remaining samples temporarily into the studio’s ceiling grid (you know to get the complete look and feel of the tin ceiling).

The office was split in which was the overall favorite. Some liked the look of simplicity, some were attracted to the strong organic configuration catching their eye, while others liked the secondary tessellation formed when the same panels are aligned. The one thing everyone could agree on was the type of finish to be applied to the tin ceiling.

What we had learned from this afternoon of decision making was that Studio K2 is made up of designers with different aesthetic palates and when our ideas collaborate something creative is likely to develop. Now, back at our desks behind our computers we can bring the results of these imaginative, collaborative, and fun decision making breaks to life.