M1DTW Architects    Projects    Practice


The Water Street Drive-Thru was designed to convey moments of the Water Street Coffee café experience to patrons that never leave their cars.






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.

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.

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.














Completed photographs by Jeffrey Kilmer






Water Street Coffee
Kalamazoo, Michigan
720 SF

Client: Water Street Coffee


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

ELSEWHERE
Water Street Blog / Sprudge
Menu    Instagram    LinkedIn    Linktree    Shop    Contact