Aspiration & Achievement
Simple forms, honest materials, & adaptive reuse transform a former industrial building into an active civic space that advances education & stewardship.
PROJECT DETAILS
The Scale House Market reimagines a former concrete scale house, once the operational center of a 40‑year rock quarry, into a new civic anchor for the Spokane Conservation District campus. Set within a landscape shaped by restoration and education, this adaptive reuse transforms an industrial remnant into a flexible, year‑round marketplace that reinforces the District’s mission to support conservation, local agriculture, and community engagement.
The design preserves the building’s original agrarian form, expressed through its steep gable roof and tilt‑up concrete walls, celebrating the structure’s utilitarian history and working character. A modest shed addition expands usable space while maintaining a clear visual hierarchy between old and new, allowing the existing structure to remain the focal point. Durable materials, including weathering steel and plywood, echo the material language of the surrounding campus and emphasize longevity, economy, and responsible stewardship.
Seasonal adaptability is central to the market’s year-round success. Operable overhead doors and fabric sunshades enable the space to open fully during warmer months, fostering openness and connection to the surrounding landscape, while remaining protected and functional throughout the winter. Adjacent outdoor market areas, flexible vendor spaces, and a small stage support a wide range of community activities, from daily markets to educational events and performances. Together, these elements elevate a once‑utilitarian structure into an active civic place where structure, landscape, and mission converge to demonstrate how adaptive reuse can turn conservation values into everyday experience.
