Brooklyn studio CO Adaptive Architecture has renovated an industrial building in the New York borough's Gowanus neighbourhood to create bright and spacious theatre rehearsal spaces.
The overhauled building is home to The Mercury Store, an organisation dedicated to the performing arts. "The Mercury Store offers residencies, studio and co-working space, community and funding," according to the organisation's website.
The Mercury Store is located in Brooklyn
Originally built as a metal foundry in 1902, the 12,700-square-foot (1,180-square-metre) structure had been partitioned several times over the years, creating cramped rooms with little natural light.
The first decision that CO Adaptive Architecture made was to open the interiors to form an expansive, top-lit space. Sunlight penetrates through existing skylights and windows
"Across the interior, previously subdivided spaces were opened up and existing windows, skylights, and clerestories were replaced or restored, permitting sunlight to penetrate all corners of the large square footprint," said CO Adaptive Architecture.
In addition to removing excess walls from the interiors, the architects also cut out the floor in half of the building, creating a tall, lofty space for rehearsals. This expansive room can be subdivided with full-height, folding doors that tuck away when not in use.
CO Adaptive Architecture added full-height sliding doors to the space
Visitors enter the building from a side alley, into a ...