Originally the home of the Missoula Gazette in 1902, 119 W Main now serves as the face of the philanthropic Headwaters Foundation and provides flexible, state-of-the-art community spaces. The historic façade was reorganized to provide a single accessible public entrance while maintaining the traditional detailing and glazing rhythms. Within, the modern urban loft aesthetic is complimented with textural nature-inspired art walls. The design impetus of these walls and the entire project was two-fold: to connect all users to this specific place on the Earth; to promote wellness and productivity through biophilic design. The first floor offers three public conference rooms, two of which can be reconfigured into one large space by folding back a series of glass partition walls. A commercial kitchen is also available to local nonprofits and as a food staging area for events. At the south alley side, two sunny and private outdoor lunch spots were provided to give relief at midday or anytime some fresh air would inspire the mind. The foundation’s mission is to create change within the communities of Western Montana. All design decisions took this and the foundation’s branding into consideration and reinforced its goals through the power of architecture.
Our clients at the Headwaters Foundation wanted a space that felt authentic to their historic downtown building while also feeling like a state-of-the-art modern workspace and conference center. The design was developed based on a balance between old and new, rough and smooth while uncovering and highlighting historic features within the structure. Original brick walls and lofted ceiling structures were opened up and exposed. These contrast with shiny new AV systems and modern workstations.
Nature is also a core theme of the design. Headwaters works with clients from diverse locations and varied backgrounds throughout western Montana. To connect on a universal level, we chose to bring nature-inspired elements into the design. The recurring themes of ripples, water, and river stones support this nature-inspired design while also reinforcing the concept behind the Headwaters Foundation itself - even the largest and most powerful rushing river starts with just a tiny trickle. Similarly, large positive change starts with small strategic change.
Furniture and textiles play a big role throughout and help support Headwaters branding. The bright colors and fun textures pop while complementing the neutral urban loft-inspired architecture to create a rich, layered interior experience.
