After visiting the site, examining the building, spending some quality time in the LoPub and following a brief study of the building's history, we proposed an intervention that involved returning much of the main floor to parking. The specific urban fabric neighboring the buildings would render any effort to develop Webb Place or the side alleys into meaningful or delightful spaces difficult. This is not to say further study of these environments will not produce effective solutions to the issues currently experienced there.
A great location and surface parking space we can live with. These statements we feel summarize the approach we proposed. By focusing the programming on the ground floor the A grade real estate along Ellice Avenue could effectively create a presence that is obviously missing. In particular, we proposed moving the Lo Pub to the Ellice Avenue side of the building, and returning the space currently occupied by the Lo Pub into parking. The final architectural move would be to open up the courtyard by removing the walls from one structural bay along the western side of the building. This final gesture would open potential for the alley to play a key role in making the building a three dimensional phenomenon but demonstrating to each passerby that a wonderful courtyard exists within the perimeter of the building. This dissection would also establish the potential for the building to be divided into five suites. Having five suites would improve the prospect of leasing the space to greater number of small companies needing 4500 sq .ft rather than the 9500 sq. ft represented by a whole floor plate.
