Project Steel Curtain rethinks the way an architecture office can engage with the surrounding community. Major pedestrian pathways cut diagonally through the site connecting the office and surrounding creative businesses.

 

Public programs such as a digital fabrication shop coupled with a cafe and small gallery activate the pedestrian pathways and act as public destinations.

 

The placement of the office circulation along the same axis emphasizes the created pedestrian cuts.  This is further referenced by two circulation stairs that cut through the entire office. Steel  Curtain’s circulation ties together the ground floor public program with the architecture office to allow for more frequent public engagement.

 

The structural grid of the building responds to the conceptual cuts by aligning the main column  structure along with the central circulation and uses this anchoring point to

support the periphery.