Poirer's Diner circa 1974. Photo by Richard J.S. Gutman
The historic Poirier’s Diner (a 1947 Kullman, the second Diner in Rhode Island to be individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places) is on the move!
For more than 50 years, and under many different names, such as “Armand’s, Krystal’s, the Top Hat, Arnold’s and most recently, the El Faro, the Diner served the working men and women of Olneyville at its location on Atwells Avenue at Eagle Square. Saved from the wrecking ball when Eagle Square was mostly demolished, on this coming Tuesday the 13th, the Diner will be placed on a truck and rolled down the block to its new home at 1380 Westminster Street on Providence’s historic West Side.
Developer Jon Özbek has begun a full scale renovation of the diner with the help of General Contractor Stack Design Build of Providence, the RI Historic Preservation & Heritage Commission, the Providence Revolving Fund, and MODA, LLC. This project represents a significant investment in the City, while it will also create new jobs. The Diner will be a welcome addition to the burgeoning West Side business community.
This restaurant will be the fourth collaboration between Jon Özbek and Michael Sears, who together have brought Loie Fuller’s, The Avery, and Ama’s to the West Side. The Diner will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, 7 days a week. And it will feature an updated version of classic American Diner fare, along with a full bar and outdoor patio seating. It is expected to open in the Spring / Summer of 2012.
The Diner is scheduled to make it’s way down Westminster St. between 9 and 10 am tomorrow morning. We are very excited to be a part of such an undertaken here at Stack and look forward to a successful project. Come on down if you’re in the neighborhood – it’s sure to be a treat!
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Rhode Island Monthly magazine announced the annual Design Awards in their October 2011 issue, and we’re thrilled to report that Stack was recognized as a winner of two awards!
The Boiler Room won Bronze for Architecture in a Residential Renovation
In the category for best Architecture in a Residential Renovation, Stack won Bronze for the Boiler Room. We have always felt that a key factor that differentiates Stack from other Design-Build firms is our passion for great Design. We seek it both in our own work as well as in our collaboration with outside Architects. To have one of our own Designs be recognized in this forum though is truly both rewarding and humbling (Stack was the only Design-Build firm to take home a 2011 Design Award) .
Stack's Josh Brandt and Andy Keating flank Boiler Room owner Eric Delin of Delin Design
However, the credit truly belongs to our amazing client, Eric Delin of Delin Design, for turning us loose on this fantastic project and trusting Stack as Designers every step along the way. As a Design professional himself, Eric made clear that he would not accept any ordinary space and without his passion, vision, and investment there would be no award to celebrate.
But fortunately, the fun didn’t stop there…
The Box Office won Gold for Commercial New Construction
In the category for best Architecture in a Commercial New Construction or Renovation, the Box Office won Gold. Congratulations to Architect (and good friend) Joe Haskett of distill studio for this tremendous accomplishment! By now, most people know that Stack built (and has its headquarters in) this Providence landmark and that we were key contributors to Joe’s Integrated Design Process that was critical to making this unique building a reality. We could not be happier for Joe for having his work win the Gold in this category!
Box Office Project Team (clockwise from left): Stack's Andy Keating; Structural Engineer Erik Nelson; Civil Engineer Jon Ford; Architect Joe Haskett; Builder Josh Brandt; Owner Peter Gill Case; and Interior Designer Kelly Taylor
Congratulations to all of this year’s winners. We hope to see you again next year!
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Inhabitat.com posted a great story about the Box Office today. This is a post-occupancy follow up to an article they ran last October in their “Prefab Friday” section. Given Inhabitat’s huge following and focus on all things green, innovative, and cool – which of course are key Stack values - we’re thrilled that they have now featured our work on three separate occasions (including this article about Conatiners 2 Clinics from 2009). Thanks for the continued support Inhabitat!
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This post highlights the second half of an amazing project we completed this spring (and wrote about last month) – a private residence that is part of the renovations to the Boiler Room in the Lebanon Mill complex in Pawtucket, RI.
Stack provided the Architecture and Construction for this 2-bed / 2-bath renovation. Kelly Taylor provided Bathroom Design. Aaron Usher provided the photographs.
We’re expecting to announce some more exciting news about this project in couple of weeks (stay tuned).
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Stack recently completed the new offices for graphic design firm Delin Design. The offices are located in an amazing and unique volume – the former Boiler Room of the Lebanon Mill complex in Pawtucket, RI (now known to most as the Riverfront Lofts).
The project was delivered turnkey Design-Build. The scope of work consisted of two new platforms to increase square footage by ~600 sf (and take advantage of the dramatic triple height space); feature stair and lighting elements; new mechanical systems, including radiant heating; and a fantastic new bathroom.
Stack provided the Architecture and Construction. Bathroom design was by Kelly Taylor of Kelly Taylor Interior Design. Photos by Aaron Usher Photography.
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We recently stumbled upon a shipping container house that we liked so much, we decided to blog about it (even though we didn’t build it). The guys who pulled this one off are EcoTechDesign in Los Angeles, CA.
It’s actually a home + studio in the Mojave desert in California. The project’s targeted and focused use of containers resulted in a high impact, identity driven building that was brought in at the same cost as conventional construction (~$150/sf). They played to the containers strengths, and got more out of the same construction budget. This is precisely the type of balance that Stack recommends to its clients and implements on its projects because, despite what some might say, containers are not a fundamentally inexpensive way to build.
What impressed us so much is actually the restraint that was shown with respect to using containers. Their use of inexpensive conventional building systems for program areas that need large open space (like the studio) really makes a lot of sense; creating spaces like these is tough – aka expensive – if you use only containers because of their structural limitations.
To read the full text of the article, click here.
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Stack's prototype shipping container medical clinic was feature in the most recent issue of Popular Mechanics. Read the full text here.
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Stack’s work was recently featured on the cover of the April 2011 Issue of Rhode Island Home & Design Magazine! This article actually had nothing to do with shipping containers (for once), and instead highlighted Stack’s residential capabilities . The featured project is one we completed late last year – a gut renovation of a single family home on Providence’s East side.
Improving energy efficiency of this early 20th century structure was top priority for project owner/architect (and frequent Stack collaborator) Joe Haskett of distill studio. Our strategy for doing this included spray foam insulation, a high efficiency combi-Boiler (combi = heat + hot water), and new fiberglass windows from Marvin. The ENERGY STAR paperwork is still pending, but based on this winter’s utility bills, it appears to have been quite successful.
Click here to read the article or here to see the issue in full! Thanks to Aaron Usher for the great photos.
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I honestly had never heard of Le Vif – or any Belgian magazines for that matter – but it’s pretty cool our project is on the cover. Especially considering that the article features many notable container projects such as Container City, Illy Cafe, Puma City, and Adam Kalkin’s 12 Container House (amongst others). Anyone out there willing to translate the text into English for us?
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The Box Office was profiled in the current issue of Design New England Magazine. The article featured interviews with Stack Principal Joshua Brandt, developer Peter Gill Case of Truthbox, Architect Joe Haskett of distill studio, and recent Stack-collaborator Kelly Taylor of Kelly Taylor Interior Design.
To read the full article click here!
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