What happens when you cross a strip mall with a museum? For this project – consolidating several boutiques into a single, dilapidated facility – we were tasked with finding an answer: a series of showroom pavilions that showcased these vehicles as artwork, while integrating with the massing and setbacks of a low-rise suburban commercial corridor.

Two opposing wings at either end of the building – with a third pavilion in between – allowed each pavilion space to have its own forecourt and distinct entry. Depending on which audience we were pitching to, the inclined roof profiles were either a reference to the ridgeline silhouetted behind (hello, planning commission) or a bird taking flight (hello, high-end auto brands with winged logos). When dealing with a complicated and discerning set of decision-makers, it helps to have a number of stories up our sleeves.

A porcelain stone tile rainscreen facade — the first of its kind in the United States — provided a high-quality finish at a lower price point. This also unified the pavilions as a consistent whole, while varying roof and fascia profiles afforded distinct brand identities.