The owner, an artist and patron of the arts, wanted to convert this former tannery, located along the banks of the Napa River, into a new center for art in Napa. The old industrial buildings were transformed into artist’s studios and gallery spaces. A central “piazza,” developed from existing parking areas and loading zones, is the focus for the redesign of this five-acre site. A new arcade, constructed of “industrial” materials common to the site, gives new uniformity to this diverse collection of older buildings.

A large breezeway, visible from the main entry to the site, is punched through the largest tannery building leading to the riverfront and the new Napa River Trail. The completed first phase renovated a pre-fabricated steel building, adding a new steel-framed arcade that links the building and the Napa River Walk.