STUDIO

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In 2014, with a growing practice and an expanding mission, KUA was in need of a new home. The answer was an underutilized, historic building with no parking, in an intown neighborhood with connectivity to MARTA and the BeltLine – an ideal embodiment of the firm’s ethos. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Bearden Temple AME Church was built in 1922 out of granite brought to the site from Stone Mountain via mule-driven cart.

The KUA studio is housed in the former sanctuary space. A separate tenant space, occupied by the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, is downstairs. In an effort to honor the original use of the building, many of its unique elements were incorporated into the new design, including eighteen original stained-glass windows, the choir loft, and the gently sloping floor – an approach that allowed acquisition of Historic Tax Credits through the National Park Service. An adaptive reuse project that returns a value local building back to daily use, contributes to the daily life of a local neighborhood, and prioritizes walking, cycling, and transit over car commuting, the KUA office is a prime example of the firm’s mission.