OPN Architects led the renovation of a neglected 100-year-old building in the heart of downtown Iowa City, Iowa. The location was ideal to immerse the studio within the community and feed off the creative energy embodied in a college town.

The work space itself is filled with natural light from new skylights above and visually connects to the University’s campus with direct views of the old capitol dome. Exposed, charred and repaired wood structure reveals the storied history of the building. Irregular brick and plaster walls were also left exposed, providing texture and warmth to the modern work environment. Minimal, translucent glass walls provide privacy where necessary and support a simple and flexible open-office work environment.

This project transformed and re-imagined an underutilized structure and serves as an example for other properties to embrace the history of a space to create modern, inspiring working space.