Claussen Bakery, Adaptive Reuse

Awarded: AIA South Carolina Design Awards, Honor Award, 2016

The former Claussen Bakery property is an historic building on Greenville’s West End, originally serving as a commercial production bakery from 1930-1973. The building, gutted and vacant for many years, had significant structural issues but beautiful architectural features such as soaring batten board ceilings and exposed brick walls. The approximately 40,000 SF building is now a mixed-use redevelopment containing retail and services-related businesses on the ground level and Class A offices on the second floor.

McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture occupies 15,600 SF of the top floor, maintaining the historic nature of the building while adding contemporary architectural features that complement the firm’s philosophy for design. The space was transformed by sandblasting the building’s interior brick walls and structure to their original color. All operable windows were replaced and nineteen-foot ceilings with exposed trusses create a light-filled central studio space surrounded by private offices.

To create an enjoyable workspace and promote an active lifestyle, the office has showers onsite for employees who want to take advantage of the office’s proximity to the Swamp Rabbit Trail. Other amenities include an outdoor terrace for employee use or to host firm functions.

The lower level, approximately 16,000 SF, is available for retail use or smaller incubator office space, supporting the revitalization of the surrounding area. This adaptive reuse project, now complete with historic marker, was finished in March 2015.