Adapting a big box store into a community center
Instructor : Christoph Jantzen
Course : ARCH-302b
Beyond Basket is a community-centered adaptive reuse project that transforms a vacant Bed Bath in Pasadena to a vibrant, energy-conscious gymnasium and community hub. Addressing pedestrian disconnect, energy waste, and urban isolation, the project opens the building’s once-blank façade to the neighborhood with public-facing programs like a 24/7 basketball court. A new folded copper roof—echoing the nearby mountains—introduces daylight, improves performance, and adds identity. By preserving the CMU walls and updating materiality, the design conserves embodied energy while fostering social engagement. This adaptive reuse project reframes a retail shell into an inclusive, sustainable space that ages with its community.
Software: Rhino, Illustrator, Photoshop
