As an organization committed to design excellence, The Clay Studio (TCS) wanted the building design to showcase the expansive range of activities within the building in an expressive and innovative manner. The 40,000 SF building begins with gallery space, a demonstration studio, and retail shop which welcome the community at street-level. The emphasis on display continues at the upper stories where rhythmic and varied windows suggest a “curio cabinet” of activity, revealing educational classrooms, artist studios, state-of-the-art prototyping spaces, ceramic studios, and kiln rooms that highlight the firing process. Large openings at the building’s southern corner frame views into open-air event spaces along the street and at the roof level, both lined with decorative hand-glazed tile.

The hallways of each floor act as the central spine of the building, breaking down barriers between programming and connecting artists of all ages and disciplines. Shared sinks and tabletops along this hallway spine encourage interaction across all studio users and allow classrooms to remain uncluttered and spacious while making productive use of circulation space.

Since their inception, TCS has amassed a unique, expansive collection of art work with an international reach. For the first time in their history, The Clay Studio has the ability to invite the community to see and experience this collection along with the rotating gallery exhibits that showcase the active work of renowned artists and members of the TCS community and artist residency program.

The project budget was $13.5M.