WAMO Studio

A 550-square-foot, walk-in freezer has been remodeled into an architect’s office. The space was “a perfect fit” for an architectural firm specializing in high-performance, energy-efficient structures. The freezer, once used by a local ice cream company that downsized, was left unused. Situated well, on the corner of the building, and with ample ceiling height, it was easily converted into an office. The sheet metal on both the inside and outside of its exterior walls is separated by extruded polyurethane insulation, so there’s little “thermal bridge” to lose energy.  The big walk-in freezer door is still in place and often left open, but a regular doorway and three new windows were installed to provide daylight and ventilation. There is a small heat pump to heat and cool the space. This is an excellent example of an adaptive re-use project.