Meritan

345 Adams Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103 United States

Building Area (sf): 16,581 sf

Completion: December 2017

Architect of Record:

archimania

archimania

• Owner/Client:
• General Contractor: Chris Woods Construction Company
• Electrical: HNA Engineering - MEP/FP
  Chad Stewart & Associates - Structural
  
• Engineering:
  
• Other:
  
• Photography:
  firm
  

A non-profit organization desired a new headquarters to support their community programs dedicated to improving well-being and independence throughout life’s stages with quality and compassion.

The client chose an abandoned, dilapidated warehouse structure at the edge of the downtown Memphis core to house their new headquarters. From this new facility, their trained professionals provide support and instruction to foster parents, familied and children.

The design strategy for this renovation project relies heavily on two simple strategies. The first is opening the space up to allow for sight lines all the way through the building in two directions—resulting in outside views in three of four directions while standing at the center of a square building. This strategy also allows natural light to enter deeply into the building via large expanses of floor-to-ceiling glass wall divisions, five layers deep. The second tactic is a bold use of color, which reacts to the project’s tight budget. The idea began as an insistent imposition of the color greenalong the flat surfaces of a pair of 120’ green view tunnels. The green tunnels intersect perpendicularly at the center of the building, which is emphasized by a contrasting magenta color on the ceiling and floor surfaces. This space is significant programmatically, as it is a safe play space for children to wait and play while adults discuss their care. The two-dimensional layer of color played out in interesting ways within the imperfections of the rough tenant infill project—translating from paint into carpet and millwork where needed. The intersecting view tunnels create a collage of reflection and transparencies against the rest of the stark white and grey space.