Water Street Coffee Drive-Thru, Kalamazoo, Michigan Building, American Commercial Real Estate, Architecture Images

Water Street Coffee Drive-Thru in Michigan

Jan 21, 2023

Design: M1DTW Architects

Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA

Photos: Jeffrey Kilmer

Water Street Coffee Drive-Thru, USA

Water Street Coffee Drive-Thru is located just north of I-94 in Kalamazoo, MI. This drive-thru only building is designed to enhance the relationship between architecture and automobile by conveying moments of the cafe experience to patrons that never leave their cars.

The building’s predominately rectangular form is modified by an emergent curved wall which is extended past the south facade to increase the building’s presence from the south and shield the various services near the staff entryway. The curved wall mimics the movement of cars on the site and introduce an element of surprise by shifting the perception of the building’s size, form, and proportions as one drives around.

A large corner window, situated in a field of western red cedar, provides a strong connection between the automobile occupants entering the site and the baristas inside the drive-thru’s workspace. This moment is further enhanced by an interior, glazed ceramic wall which provides a warm and welcoming first impression.

Additionally, a horizontal window on the north facade allows views of the baked goods and other coffee shop offerings while waiting, introducing a browsing experience that eschews the small, transactional window typical of most drive-thrus.

Various brick bonding patterns were deployed across the ironspot brick façade to add variation and texture to a building that would be experienced at slow speeds. The subtle curvature of the south wall was enhanced with a sawtooth running bond that provides a dynamic and textured surface which is animated by shifting shadows throughout the day.

Awards
AIA Detroit Design Honor Award, 2021
“M-Award for Excellence in Masonry Design” Masonry Institute of Michigan and AIA Michigan, 2020

Water Street Coffee Drive-Thru in Kalamazoo, Michigan – Building Information

Architects: M1DTW Architects – https://www.m1dtw.com/

Project size: 720 ft2
Completion date: 2017
Building levels: 1

Photography: Jeffrey Kilmer

Water Street Coffee Drive-Thru in Kalamazoo, Michigan images / information received 210123

Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA

Detroit Buildings

Detroit Architecture Designs

Detroit Architecture Designs – chronological list

Gordie Howe International Bridge

Beacon Park Lumen Restaurant, Grand River Avenue
Design: Touloukian Touloukian Inc.

photo courtesy of The Chicago Athenaeum
Beacon Park Lumen Restaurant

Monroe Blocks Detroit
Design: Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects

image from architect
Monroe Blocks Development