ai3 Concepts in Construction: Lure, restaurant design

Lure, ai3's new restaurant design with Peace Design, is shaping up nicely. Set to open this summer, Fifth Group's Lure is in its last weeks of construction and ready to be unveiled to an eager public.

The architectural design was inspired by the industrial fishing business...think...canneries and ice buildings of coastal towns.  This architectural aesthetic will contrast the interior design, inspired by glamorous images of coastal beaches... think... vacation. A stunning environment for eating the highest quality seafood from around the world.  This was one our favorite inspirational images.

We conducted a site visit with the ai3 studio and Choate Construction team for review of new, creative solutions to design, mechanical systems, and environmental components.

What we learned:

• A lot more work happens in the last 2 weeks of construction than you would expect! It is AMAZING!
• HVAC duct-less system was installed in the ceiling of the divisible private dining area. A great solution for limited ceiling/plenum space. (These are super-stacked, Tectum acoustical panels in the ceiling with recessed light fixtures.)

• Modular bar die design provides removable panels at the bar front.  This allows easy access to all plumbing and electrical equipment needs and provides an easier way to clean equipment. The team also learned to set the die on the sub-floor (if there isn't an existing floor) so that the top of the bar counter will be at the proper height.

• Kitchen flooring incorporates Wear-Tuff 1/4" recycled sheet vinyl with chemically welded seams and integral cove base. Our team felt it was a much nicer design aesthetic for the Kitchen than the quarry tile.
• 2200 gallon rain harvesting "Rain Pillow" will be incorporated into the basement area of Lure to collect gray water drainage. It will provide all irrigation for the property.
• Sometimes a port-a-potty is needed to hold up the back of a building. (kidding)

Other photographs from our site visit:

This project reminds me of where we all began... the ai3 partners spent many o' lunches and happy hours with our old firm at Vickery's, and Fifth Group's first restaurant, South City Kitchen, is just doors down Crescent Avenue. It seems this will be a special place for all of us.