table of contents - the City of Easton

Building L
Retail/Parking/Housing/Gallery Space
Building L is a solid two-story concrete structure distinguished by its sawtooth
roof with north facing skylights. Unique among the buildings on site, this building
is integrated with the geography of the site: the south end of the Building,
along the Boulevard, is at grade while the north end of this building is below
grade and buried in the landscape. Further complicating this building’s use is
its substantial footprint (22,611 SF) and square configuration.
To make the most of this building’s attributes and overcome its challenges,
Building L is envisioned as a mixed-use structure. Commercial space, sheltered
parking, and storage occupy the first floor. Here, commercial space is
programmed for the south end of the building fronting the Boulevard where
access is at grade. On the north end, where the first floor is below grade, the
building is configured to accommodate sheltered parking (for the residents
of the apartments on the upper level) as well as storage and the building’s
utility core.
Building L’s second floor is complicated by its square shape. The high ceilings
and steady northern light permitted by the skylights on the sawtooth roof
create appealing living and studio space; however, the building is too deep for
residential units alone. To use the deep center space on the second floor more
effectively, loft apartments (with living space on the first level and sleeping
lofts above) are arranged around the perimeter while a central gallery space
(an open, flexible support and exhibit space) is located at the core. Similar
to the other structures in ArtHome, this dynamic live/work environment is
envisioned as raw space where the artists inform what the space will become.
Inspirational image of a former industrial building renovated into loft apartments.