Project Updates from Sparano + Mooney Architecture
Wabi-Sabi House, rendering courtesy of Sparano + Mooney Architecture
2017 has thus far been busy for the Sparano + Mooney Architecture team and we are pleased to bring you a report on our progress! We remain committed to collaborating with our clients to produce great design, deliver thoughtful, innovative and contemporary design solutions, and position our exceptional people at dynamic centers of architecture. As architects working throughout the American West, Sparano + Mooney Architecture is dedicated to elevating a strong regional design movement and we welcome the opportunity to discuss your next civic, cultural, performing arts, master planning, worship, mixed-use, residential or commercial project. In the meantime, perhaps the updates below will help inspire!
Rawtopia Restaurant
The award-winning Salt Lake City restaurant, Rawtopia, is relocating to a larger space in the Olympus Hills Shopping Center where its flagship location will serve raw, vegetarian, vegan and organic fare. The restaurant selected our architectural team to create its new space which will double the restaurant’s previous capacity, as well as provide new kitchen space and equipment that will allow for menu expansion. In addition to fine dining, the restaurant design allows for a variety of food services, including a smoothie bar, patio dining and a to-go counter for those who love their Rawtopia on the run. The project is currently under construction and is scheduled to open early this summer.
Utah State University Fine Arts Complex
Utah State University’s Kent Concert Hall is undergoing a major renovation which will transform it from a multi-functional proscenium stage, to a state of the art choral and orchestral performance space. As part of the renovation, it will be renamed to the Newel G. and Jean C. Daines Concert Hall. The project is currently under construction, with theatrical and audio-visual systems being installed, tested and programmed. The first performance is scheduled for next fall, and the acoustics should be amazing!
The USU Fine Arts Center’s Scene Shop and Costume Shop were designed by Sparano + Mooney Architecture to increase the existing shops’ square footage to accommodate large sets and costume production, as well as modern, professional equipment to provide students a real-world theatrical experience. Both shops are now occupied by the user groups who are enjoying the new teaching and learning spaces and improved theater programming and production capabilities.
The Fine Art Complex Courtyard improvements include concrete and brick paving which has been installed, with landscape, lighting and irrigation in process. This landscape project should be wrapping in the coming months, and will provide a functional and beautifully designed focal point as a gathering space for students, faculty and visitors to the Fine Arts Complex.
A preview of the Kent Concert Hall, Utah State University – construction in progress
Recreation Projects
Our Studio City Recreation Center and Gymnasium in Beeman Park will be Los Angeles’s first Net Zero Energy pilot project. The new 12,000 SF facility will be an immeasurable architectural asset to the neighborhood and community, and will also demonstrate the feasibility of designing self-sustaining, energy-efficient municipal buildings. The project is moving into the Design Development phase and we are excited to partner with the City of Los Angeles on this state-of-the-art, modern recreation facility.
The Pawley Pool Aquatic Facility, within the Desert Recreation District in Southern California, will serve the needs of the largest recreation district in the state. Among other amenities, the new pool and bathhouse will feature an activity swimming pool, lap lanes, new pool decks, meeting rooms, event spaces, parking and landscaping. The Design Development phase is complete, and we are awaiting the client’s comments before our architects will be moving onto Construction Documents.
Working with Landmark Design, we developed a series of design and planning options exploring the expansion and potential diversification of the amenities for the Deseret Peak Recreation complex in Tooele County. On 15 February 2017, the entire consultant team held a public open house at the Tooele County building and received community feedback. The team presented some fantastic opportunities to help user groups improve concert events, equestrian facilities and the county fair property. The feedback has been consolidated into a single document and next steps are currently being planned in coordination with the community toward a final master plan for the complex.
New Residential Ground Breakings
The Tree House project is located in the 9th and 9th neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah. This modern architecture urban house features a double height great room, a courtyard with a pool, and a secluded master suite. The project is currently under construction with anticipated completion at the end of the year.
The Tree House, rendering courtesy of Sparano + Mooney Architecture
Located in Emigration Canyon above Salt Lake City, Utah, the Wabi-Sabi House project is a new home that is designed to celebrate a unique elevated canyon view with a direct connection to nature. We are happy to report that the permit has been picked up, the Limit of Disturbance fence is installed, and our LEED for homes planning is underway. Ground breaking is scheduled for May. The exterior of the home is a cedar rain screen cladding, and the materials for the interior include a contrast of pure white walls against a white oak wood flooring, cabinetry and hemlock ceilings.
Big Cartel Creative Workspace
You may recall reading our recent blog post about Big Cartel, our fantastic client and an incredibly cool webstore business provider dedicated to assisting creatives in reaching their potential. We have just finished a project to help Big Cartel design their company headquarters, and are honored to have helped bring the firm’s vision for their workspace to life. Located in the historic warehouse district in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, the architectural design of this 3,200 SF tenant improvement was highly collaborative with the client and centered on creating a minimalist space celebrating the contrast between new and historic design elements. Simple detailing and consistent materials provide the setting for Big Cartel’s artist-based platform and graphic style.
Be sure to visit our blog in the coming months for in-depth articles about these projects, and the many others that are currently in the works, and please feel free to contact us if you have an idea you’d like our architects to help you turn into a reality!