Urban Brunch at 1203 Willamette Street

1203 Willamette (all photos by me)

As a change of pace, the 2018 edition of the annual joint AIA-Southwestern Oregon / CSI-Willamette Valley Chapter / ASLA Oregon-Willamette Valley Section Summer Picnic wasn’t a picnic in the usual sense. Instead, it was a scrumptiously decadent three-course brunch served within one of Eugene’s most intriguing urban developments of recent years: 1203 Willamette Street, an excellent example of adaptive reuse within a rejuvenating area of the city center. 

KPFF Consulting Engineers sponsored the AIA/CSI/ALSA brunch, which featured great food provided by Saucefly Kitchen. Saucefly specializes in preparing one-of-a-kind sauces, snacks, dressings, sweets, and savory surprises from organic, locally sourced ingredients. I particularly enjoyed the Kitchen’s take on Eggs Benedict, the best I’ve ever had for sure. 

I found the prospect of visiting 1203 Willamette for the first time since its renovation as much a reason to attend the event as the promise of good company and delicious fare. The 1940s-vintage 36,000-square-foot building was originally a furniture store. More recently it was the Oregon Antique Mall before a partnership including John Rowell and Greg Brokaw of Rowell Brokaw Architects purchased the property with an eye toward repurposing it as a stylish retail/commercial center. Their ambitious project completely transformed the old building, in the process revealing the original timber framing, wood floors, and roof structure, improving its ability to resist seismic forces, and welcoming daylight through expansive new windows and skylights. The Willamette Street façade is particularly transparent and features garage-door storefronts, which open when the weather is pleasant to engage passersby and enliven the streetscape.  

Brunch at SauceFly Kitchen

Saucefly Kitchen opens to the east (alley) side of the building, and like the west-facing Willamette Street façade features a glazed, overhead folding door opening to a patio immediately outside. We began our “picnic” on the patio but moved indoors when brunch was ready. The retail storefront on the Willamette Street side is devoted to selling Chef Sara Willis’ fresh culinary creations and ingredients that are the foundation of the Saucefly’s signature business, a service delivering boxes to subscribers six times a year. 

The other storefronts at 1203 Willamette are occupied by Claim 52 Kitchen, which features an eclectic selection of pub food in addition to Claim 52 Brewery’s traditional and seasonal beer styles, and the Katie Brown Store, a fashion boutique specializing in “timeless and classic staples for the female wardrobe.” Saucefly, Claim 52, and the Katie Brown Store all contribute to 1203 Willamette’s hip, urban vibe—exactly what this stretch of Willamette needs, especially so in view of Capstone Development’s sidewalk-snubbing 13th & Olive student housing ghetto across the street. 

Following brunch, Greg Brokaw led everyone on a tour of his firm’s new office in 1203 Willamette. The choice to move into the building proved easy for RBA. Prior to making this decision, RBA had designed the 33 East Broadway infill project in the heart of downtown with the intent to set up shop in that new building; however, the project partners eventually determined making 33 East Broadway “pencil out” would be challenging given the high cost of development on a tight site downtown. They then looked to 1203 Willamette, which proved financially promising due in no small part to the fact the project entailed renovation rather than all-new construction. 

Rowell Brokaw Architects' office

RBA’s new space on the second floor of 1203 Willamette is spacious and light-filled. Much of its character is derived from the exposed original wood roof framing and concrete walls. There’s an “urban loft” feel to the interior, and the distinct sense it is an environment devoted to creativity and collaboration. Greg described the custom-fabricated sit-stand desks designed by his staff, which surprisingly proved less expensive than comparable manufactured systems. 

Much to the delight of RBA’s staff, the office suite features a fully equipped kitchen, nap room, and dedicated restroom (in addition to common restrooms in the building core). Rowell Brokaw also operates a separate “interiors lab” located across the hall from the main office. Secure bicycle storage and a shower room are found in the basement. 

The other office tenants in 1203 Willamette include Trifoia, DeChase Miksis, Q Sterry Inspired Architecture, DaviesMoore, and Watkinson Laird Rubenstein pc. The building leased-up quickly, a testament to the desirability of its location and how appealing its architectural makeover is. Only one small suite approximately 500 SF in area remains vacant. 

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Essex General Construction, who executed the renovation. 1203 Willamette is a fine example of Essex’s growing portfolio of impressive mixed-use projects. 

No stranger to winning design awards, Rowell Brokaw received a Merit Award from the 2018 AIA-SWO Design Awards program, as well as a 2017 AIA-SWO Mayor’s Choice Award for 1203 Willamette. My firm (Robertson/Sherwood/Architects pc) may compete head-to-head with Rowell Brokaw for many commissions but I’m quick to give props when they’re plainly due. 1203 Willamette is an outstanding project. Mad respect to RBA for a job well done!