DTW Architects designed this 45,000-square-foot commercial development, which replaces several deteriorating buildings, revitalizes part of a former brownfield site once occupied by a dry-cleaning business, and contributes to the ongoing revitalization of the Durham community.
The project features a two-story office building that follows the curve of Chapel Hill and Kent Streets, complemented by a small cooperative grocery and inviting outdoor spaces. Metal sunshades add depth to the façade, breaking up the expanse of windows, while a mix of glass, metal panels, and brick creates a contemporary aesthetic. A striking angled projection of windows extends toward the street, offering a bold, modern welcome to passersby.
The development incorporates parking, landscaping, stormwater management, and passive vapor mitigation designed to accommodate active vapor intrusion (VI) systems if needed in the future. While the project was conceived as shell buildings, DTW also collaborated with the grocery and office tenants to design their interior spaces.
For more on the grocery building, see the Durham Co-op Market project.