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St. Lawrence Square
The architecture of the block – parking structure, liner buildings and detached “flat-iron” structure – purposely designed by Shook Kelley in order to legitimately create a scale and texture in keeping with the traditional character of the downtown Asheville, NC landscape.
In recent years, downtown Asheville, NC has been experiencing a renaissance. In a city known for the incomparable Biltmore House and the romantic Grove Park Inn, it has long existed as a shadow of it pre-1920s era self. Consequently, the inner city was spared the wrecking ball simply because it was too expensive to tear buildings down. This legacy of neglect, fortunately, is a rich stock of early 19th century buildings – many rendered in the exuberance of Art Deco and Art Moderne architecture.
One of the most ambitious and far-reaching of initiatives to reclaim downtown has been the restiration of the 1926 Grove Arcade and the redevelopment of the surrounding area. Shook Kelley is in the forefront of this effort with the design of St. Lawrence Square, a public/private mixed-use development.
Anchored by a 650 car parking structure built by the City of Asheville, the project will encompass a range of housing types as well as retail and office uses. Central to the project is the creation of a new roundabout to resolve a complicated traffic issue, which would also serve as a sensitive backdrop to the National Landmark status Basilica of St. Lawrence. Completing the urban edge facing the Basilica will be an extension of Asheville's "Urban Trails" public art initiative, culminating with a large mural executed in the robust spirit of the Art Deco/Moderne era.
In recent years, downtown Asheville, NC has been experiencing a renaissance. In a city known for the incomparable Biltmore House and the romantic Grove Park Inn, it has long existed as a shadow of it pre-1920s era self. Consequently, the inner city was spared the wrecking ball simply because it was too expensive to tear buildings down. This legacy of neglect, fortunately, is a rich stock of early 19th century buildings – many rendered in the exuberance of Art Deco and Art Moderne architecture.
One of the most ambitious and far-reaching of initiatives to reclaim downtown has been the restiration of the 1926 Grove Arcade and the redevelopment of the surrounding area. Shook Kelley is in the forefront of this effort with the design of St. Lawrence Square, a public/private mixed-use development.
Anchored by a 650 car parking structure built by the City of Asheville, the project will encompass a range of housing types as well as retail and office uses. Central to the project is the creation of a new roundabout to resolve a complicated traffic issue, which would also serve as a sensitive backdrop to the National Landmark status Basilica of St. Lawrence. Completing the urban edge facing the Basilica will be an extension of Asheville's "Urban Trails" public art initiative, culminating with a large mural executed in the robust spirit of the Art Deco/Moderne era.