Cultural, Institutional and Civic Design Studio...Cultural, Institutional and Civic Design Studio....

praxis3architecture planning design

Cultural, Institutional and Civic Design Studio


Founded in 1997, Praxis3 is an innovative, Atlanta-based architectural and design firm whose mission is to foster design excellence while providing client-driven solutions. Deploying the talents of multi-disciplinary studio teams, Praxis3 tackles each project as an exploration of ideas in the creative process, producing unique, site-specific designs for even the most challenging building sites and programs.

The firm specializes in mixed use, automotive and specialty retail, residential, and cultural-institutional project designs throughout the United States. Praxis3’s comprehensive approach to designing and building projects includes extensive research, in which its designers engage in hands-on sessions, asking tough questions and listening carefully to client input. Ultimately, the Praxis3 process ensures that projects will meet client’s creative and financial goals.

With its experienced team of professionals in architecture, urban design and planning, as well as web design and graphics, Praxis3 is a leader in navigating the personal, technical, and political dynamics that designing, building and marketing complex urban and campus projects demand. The firm’s state of the art technologies include the Revit Building Information Modeling CADD Software (BIM) and the in-house developed Tangentworks project management system.

praxis3 firm profile1: the application of ideas2: the use of knowledge3: the practice of skills

architecture . urban design . planning . media design . graphic design . web design


Decatur Firestation No. 2 City of DecaturDecatur, GA

The team’s innovative new station is designed to replace a dilapidated 1950’s era firehouse with a new and in–scale neighborhood civic monument. A glass tower tracks the movement of the sun throughout the year with the No. 2 logo of the station projected on to the tower’s front face. The energy efficient building is certified as LEED Silver and is sited to preserve several large trees on the site.

Architects:LP3 architecture

Client:City of Decatur


Architect:LP3 architecture

Client:Georgia Institute of Technology

The Georgia Institute of Technology is home to one of the world’s premier Robotics and Intelligent Machines programs. The two-phase 20,000 s.f. renovation, currently under design, will be the new home for the department.

The renovated space contains a state-of-the-art laboratory and research environment to facilitate greater interaction and cross-pollination between the numerous disciplines and specializations required for the creation of the next generation of robots. The space plan is driven by the desire to maximize day-lighting and to provide flexibility for ongoing reorganizations common with the department’s projects.

Beyond the functional imperatives of the plan, the space will create an interactive habitat and display environment for the robots created at Georgia Tech. A central element of the design will be the animated and robotically inspired mixed media display wall, located at the entry to the space. In addition to showcasing current research projects, corporate donors and ongoing events at the school, the wall will incorporate display platforms for functioning robots.

Georgia Institute of Technology Robotics and Intelligent Machines (RIM) Laboratory and Research CenterAtlanta, GA

Georgia Tech College of Architecture, Galloway CafeGeorgia TechAtlanta, GA

Praxis3 was selected to complete this small but important project for the College of Architecture at Georgia Tech. The Galloway Cafe commemorates the life of Thomas Galloway, the late Dean at the College of Architecture. The cafe serves as a center of student life at the college serving coffee, teas and desserts to students and faculty. The 21st century cafe incorporates a media wall as an integral part of the cafe. The wall will show a variety of special media programs as well as student work and other content.

Architects:Praxis3

with Fred PearsallClient:

Georgia TechCollege of Architecture


University of GeorgiaLamar Dodd School of Art: Jewelry and Metalwork Program StudioUniversity of GeorgiaAthens, GA

Praxis3 is performing a preliminary space programming study for the Office of the University Architects to assess options for relocating the Jewelry and Metalwork Program into more spacious and enhanced facilities that will better meet its needs. The study will define the Program’s operational needs and, thereby, help determine which campus facilities can best accommodate it, as well as how much funding will be required for the project. Study components include assessment of faculty offices, classrooms, design and production studios, display space, storage, and FF&E (furniture, fixtures and loose equipment).

Architects:Praxis3

Client:University of Georgia

Lamar Dodd School of Art


Decatur Recreation CenterCity of DecaturDecatur, GA

The building housing the Decatur Recreation Center was originally constructed in 1958 and houses a diverse schedule of recreational, civic and arts programs for the city of Decatur. LP3 architecture is re-programming and developing plans to renovate the building to accomodate the functional requirements of a 21st century recreation and community center. The vinatage mid-century building will be restored and updated while the front lawn of the structure will be utilized as new more active city park space.




Decatur Recreation CenterCity of DecaturDecatur, GA

Decatur Recreation Center Renovation and Addition

Axonometric at Main Level

Axonometric at Lower Level

The building housing the Decatur Recreation Center was originally constructed in 1958 and houses a diverse schedule of recreational, civic and arts programs for the city of Decatur. LP3 architecture is re-programming and developing plans to renovate the building to accomodate the functional requirements of a 21st century recreation and community center. The vinatage mid-century building will be restored and updated while the front lawn of the structure will be utilized as new more active city park space.




Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity House at Georgia TechAtlanta, GA

Architect:Praxis3

Client:Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity

The existing Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity House on the campus of Georgia Tech reflects its multi-year history of additions and alterations. The new house will incorporate the shell and foundations of the existing buildings providing an all new multi-purpose facility. The new building will be a model of environmental sustainability and include both passive and active energy strategies. Large south-facing roofs will capture solar energy while a 3-level front porch/screenwall will act as both a solar screen and social gathering spot for the fraternity. A large central multi-story central activity area will define the indoor social space of the house. Residential sections of the house will provide group study areas along with a variety of room types. Praxis3 worked closely with TKE alumni , counselors and current members to develop the program for the new facility.


West Central Technical College [WCTC]- Coweta Campus: Main Classroom and Administration BuildingCoweta County, GA

Architect:Praxis3

Client:West Central Technical College Foundation

The first Buildings at the new Coweta Campus of the West Central Technical College will house the Central Campus Administration, a new home for the Coweta County Chamber of Commerce and two new General Classroom wings. The courtyard scheme acknowledges proper solar orientation to maximize energy efficiencies. Buildings will be constructed with long-term environmental sustainability as a primary goal. The more formal campus layout of these main buildings gives the College a dignified, academic feel, something that the client felt was important for those returning to school at the Technical College facility. The courtyard space is oriented towards an existing wooded area and natural stream bed and takes full advantage of the pristine wooded site.



Neighborhood Charter SchoolAtlanta, GA

Architect:Praxis3/ Verge

Client:Neighborhood Charter School

Atlanta Public Schools

On February 10, 2003 the Neighborhood Charter School, housed in a building originally constructed for the Atlanta Public School System in 1907, was substantially destroyed by fire. Using insurance funds and additional money raised by the community, the school was rebuilt. The original exterior shell of the school building, located in the historic Grant Park neighborhood of Atlanta, will be preserved and restored. The existing walls will house a newly designed contemporary school facility.

Features of the new building include: extensive use of daylighting and indirect lighting systems, exposed brick walls at classrooms differentiating the original shell from the new structure, floor tile and other patterning used as an interpretive learning device, a central sky lit atrium area designed as a gallery for student’s ceramic panel artwork. The new twenty-two classroom school building, media center, multi-purpose room and auditorium, will be completed in January 2005 after an accelerated nine month construction process.


Capitol Gateway Community Center Capitol Gateway, LLCA joint venture of Trammell Crow Residential, Integral Group, Urban Realty Partners and the Atlanta Housing AuthorityAtlanta, GA

Located in the shadow of the Georgia State Capitol Building southeast of downtown Atlanta, Capitol Gateway is a Hope VI-sponsored redevelopment of the former Capitol Homes public housing project. The Community Center building serves as the physical and symbolic center of the new neighborhood. The $1 million center anchors a new park and swimming facility and be located at a major crossroads of the new development. The 2-level community, meeting and recreation facility houses a flexible multi-purpose space, conference room, kitchenette, exercise room, swimming pool, changing/shower rooms, and a maintenance and storage facility for the entire Capitol Gateway Complex.

Architects:Praxis3/Verge

Client:Trammell Crow Residential, Integral Real

Estate Group, Urban Realty Partners, Atlanta Housing Authority

Project Team:Stuart Romm, David Hamilton,

Brian Tanner, Corey Overton, Duc Pham, Kenny Ellsworth

Variety Playhouse Balcony RenovationAtlanta, GA

The Variety Playhouse has become one of the best known and most beloved music venues in Atlanta and the Southeast. Located in the Little 5 Points neighborhood, this former movie theater attracts national and internationally known musical acts. The theater’s original main balcony was an open clutter of scattered seating- all with mostly bad sightlines. This study proposes a new fixed seating scheme that will increase balcony capacity from 100 to over 140. Most importantly, all seats will have excellent views to the stage.

Architects:Praxis3

Client:Steve Harris, Variety Playhouse


DeKalb School of the Arts | DeKalb Center for the ArtsDeKalb County, GA

The DeKalb School of the Arts project was accomplished pro bono for a concerned group of parents and teachers. The drawings were intended to show the county school board that a dynamic new facility could be located adjacent to the current school building, built in the 1950s. Each arts discipline- Dance, Music, Visual and Media Arts and Theater, is housed in its own second level studio space. Courtyards occupy the spaces between discipline studios. Open spaces below each studio at ground level are utilized as student and public interfaces with each artistic discipline and include a gallery space and sculpture garden at the Visual Arts and Media studio and a small amphitheater at the Theater Arts studio center. The complex is tied together by the two level General Curriculum classroom center located in the connecting building at the rear of the courtyards. Shared campus spaces, including the Main Administrative area, Media Center and Cafeteria are housed in a linear building fronting North Druid Hills Road.

The connected, DeKalb Center for the Arts is shown beyond the school.Together these two complementary complexes share spaces and functions and most importantly, present a prominent face for the arts in DeKalb County.

Architects:Praxis3 + Amy Landesberg Architects

Client:DeKalb School of fthe Arts PTSA



Making Our Way Better was a comprehensive non-profit organization dedicated to helping the complete person. The campus included extensive educational, health, fitness, arts and cultural facilities as well as senior housing. Conceptualized as a single stop center for a variety of services currently available only at widely disparate locations the campus would serve multiple generations of people seeking self and community improvement. The project included strategic partnerships with several major community healthcare and educational groups.

Architects:Praxis3

Client:Making Our Way Better, Inc.

Making Our Way Better (MOWB) CampusUnion City, GA

Kennesaw State University Central Parking Facility Kennesaw, GA

As KSU has grown from a commuter school of 1,000 students to a major university with over 20,000, the crucial need for additional parking became apparent. The new, centrally-located, 8-story, 2,600-car deck provides much needed relief of the parking problems at this rapidly expanding university campus. This major design-build parking structure was successfully delivered on time and under budget by the Praxis3-Choate Construction Team. As KSU Assistant Vice-President for Facilities, John Anderson, recently said regarding the Praxis3 use of the Building Information Modeling (BIM) modeling software Revit, “It seemed to be a great tool that allowed the project to progress very quickly. We were very pleased with the results. This is a very attractive parking structure that was on time and under budget! Thanks for all that you did to make this project a huge success!”

Architects:Praxis3

Client:Kennesaw State University Foundation

Project Manager:Gleeds, USA

Project Team:Stuart Romm, Brian Tanner,

Duc Pham, Joe Lamb



The Florence and Seymour Gerson MikvahCongregation Beth JacobAtlanta, GA

Architect:Romm+Pearsall,

Amy Landesburg

Client:Congregation Beth Jacob

The Florence and Seymour Gerson Mikvah is a freestanding structure built on the Congre-gation Beth Jacob campus. This facility encloses the Mikvah immersion pool, built in strict accordance with Jewish law, from which the overall roof form was derived in order to collect rainwater within exact requirements. The building encompasses supporting functions such as reception, individual changing rooms, salon, laundry, and office.

Although men or women may use a mikvah, this facility was constructed specifically for the

women of the Atlanta community. Additionally, since it may only be used after sundown, privacy and security were the highest priority. Thus the building was required to be essentially windowless, and since the site is somewhat steeply sloped, the design seeks to embed the building into the earth as much as possible, again echoing the ‘modesty’ inherent in the program.


Rail ClubRail Atlanta NightclubAtlanta, GA

Architect:praxis3

Designer:Stuart Romm Byung Il Yoo

Client: Rail Atlanta Nightclub

This multipurpose nightclub, special events space and restaurant was designed for an

industrial site adjacent to a major rail yard in Atlanta. The club takes inspiration from its

tough industrial surroundings and introduces water as a major design element. Light-

ing, video and graphics enhance the sleek minimal exterior of the building.

Cultural, Institutional and Civic Design Studio...Cultural, Institutional and Civic Design Studio....

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