The building at 347 Ward Street in Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood was the type of structure that is nearly invisible to the undiscerning passerby. Windowless, and last renovated in 1973, the building disappeared into the context of the more vibrant neighborhood surrounding it. The multi-generational family book bindery inside had slowed production and was closing operations when it was purchased in late 2019 by “The Bindery”.

The new owner had a bold vision of converting the city’s last traditional book bindery and its antique equipment into the city’s preeminent gathering place for Milwaukee’s writers, typographers, and print makers. To help make this vision a reality, we crafted the layout of the building into a series of visually connected spaces that increase in privacy as you delve further into the building. These privacy gradients correspond to the different levels of membership at The Bindery as well as provide increased focus for members involved in highly concentrative tasks such as writing.

To create a more noticeable and graceful entrance to the building, a section of the original 1920’s building was removed to create a small courtyard off of Ward Street. This space, in addition to providing accessible entry to the building, orchestrates a memorable visual and processional experience as one enters the building.  It also acts as a way to engage the street and announce the presence of the creative work happening within the walls of The Bindery.

 The interior palate of the project was a blend of vibrant color, industrial heritage, and plain old fun.  To push the limited daylight inwards from the perimeter, a crisp coat of white paint was applied to the existing metal deck and bar joists.  The column and beam structure were painted a brand appropriate teal as a way of boosting the energy and visual interest within the building.

The Bindery was a unique project in that it not only creatively repurposed a stale industrial building, but it preserved the unique equipment within it.   Those historical machines were given a new lease on life and will help to extend the skills and craft of bookbinding and printing into future generations.  The project served as a compelling example of how to transform an industrial asset into a cultural one that is deeply valued within the community.