2 north pa ave

Two years after the new structure we designed on this site didn’t move forward, our client returned to us to revisit expanding his current restaurant into the adjacent unused space. Renovating the original building would still be a win for this admired corner in downtown Greensburg, PA. With the only original portion of the building exterior being the upper floors (the first-floor storefront had been extensively modified years earlier), we felt a new first-floor storefront was justified to animate the street presence of a popular bar and restaurant.

Our client recommissioned us to expand his business with a new contemporary bar interior. Reworking earlier solutions, we resolved critical internal organizational deficiencies and functional relationships within the tight footprint. Providing an accessible route between buildings with misaligned floor levels allowed for a stimulating path between sides that opened up a meaningful connection giving each section an identity with a common thread.

Inside we studied alternate business models reflected in two visual approaches. One is a traditional small-town bar with brick walls and worn wooden floors. The other uses a distinctive martini bar atmosphere with lighter colors and contemporary gestures.

With pending additional structural support needed for the floor framing and a desire not to disrupt the basement tenant, the owner tabled the project until the lower-level tenant retired. All these years later, the business is up for sale, and we hope we can still see the design realized.

Client: Roy and Natalie Bodnar, Owner’s Oliver’s Pourhouse, Robokyo
Project Date: 2016
Project Type: Commercial – Restaurant/Bar – Adaptive Reuse / Renovations and Additions
Project Size: Renovations of approximately 2,430 square feet, First Floor and Mezzanine
MEP Engineering Consultant: AJC Professional Services
Structural Engineering Consultant: Anderson Structural Inc.