Our architecture firm was engaged by the University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA) to renovate an existing commercial building at 838 Riverside Drive into a fully functional temporary art studio and classroom facility. This project was developed as a swing space solution to accommodate art students and faculty during the extensive renovations of UNCA’s primary Owen Hall and Carmichael Hall facilities.
The building, previously used for industrial purposes, required a complete interior remodel to meet the spatial, technical, and safety needs of a modern university art program. Our design team worked on an accelerated schedule to ensure the space would be ready for the Spring 2019 semester, with a focus on flexibility, durability, and meeting UNCA’s academic standards.
The renovation included the creation of temporary classrooms, open art studios, faculty offices, and kiln rooms, all tailored to support ceramics, sculpture, and mixed media work. Specialized systems were installed to support ventilation, equipment loads, and appropriate utility demands for heavy-use art spaces.
Situated in a designated floodplain, the project required careful planning and engineering to meet both local code requirements and state-level compliance. This included elevating sensitive systems, implementing moisture control strategies, and verifying flood mitigation measures to ensure long-term safety and usability.
In addition to the interior transformation, the building’s exterior underwent extensive maintenance and upgrades to align with UNCA’s architectural and safety standards, including improvements to accessibility, lighting, signage, and building envelope integrity.
This project showcases our firm’s expertise in adaptive reuse for higher education, temporary academic facility design, and managing complex site and code challenges. By transforming 838 Riverside Drive into a productive and inspiring environment for creative learning, we ensured continuity in UNCA’s academic mission without disruption to students or faculty.
