DESIGNING FOR ALTERNATIVE FUTURES WHILE CELEBRATING PAST STORIES
Franklin Avenue reflects the City of Waco’s belief in reusing existing urban fabric for the future. The corridor is defined by makers and light industrial uses, housed in former factories, warehouses, and service stations that remain largely intact. Current development builds on this context by adapting what already exists. The Snack Shack project follows this approach by transforming a 1950s service station into the home of Kendrick Industries. The design preserves the scale and character of the original structure while introducing a new use that supports Waco’s evolving economy and reinforces Franklin Avenue as a place for making and production.
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Location
Waco, TX
Ground
Urban
Program
Mixed-use
Intervention
New Construction
Services
Architectural Design
The design strengthens the existing streetscape by introducing a series of controlled openings and shaded outdoor spaces that blur the boundary between interior and exterior. A new pergola structure extends the building toward the street, creating a clear entry sequence and a covered forecourt that activates the frontage while maintaining the original scale of the service station. Large storefront openings and interior glazing connect previously separated volumes, allowing light, views, and movement to flow through the building. Inside, these openings align workspaces with the street and courtyard, reinforcing transparency, flexibility, and a continuous relationship between making, gathering, and the public realm.
