abouTdevelopment

Modern Architecture Gets Second Chance
By NIKA HANCOCK

You may not realize it, but you’ve probably seen an example of the work of the Father of Industrial Design, Raymond Loewy. One of Loewy’s designs sits at the corner of Main and 29th Street in Bryan, but like most people, you have probably driven by this building many times without giving it a second look. But Ambrose Furniture Works, new owner of the building, plans to give you a reason to not only notice the building, but to stop and come in.

Though you may not know the name Raymond Loewy, you know his work. Loewy is responsible for the logo designs of Exxon, Greyhound, Shell Oil Company, and the U.S. Postal Service, just to name a few. His repertoire also includes designs for Coke bottles, trains, automobiles, refrigerators, and NASA spacecraft interiors.

Randall Spradley of Astin Partners says, “This building is a link in a long line of astonishing, award-winning design by one of the most important industrial designers of the 20th Century.” Originally an International Harvester Service Center designed by Loewy’s firm and built around 1947, the building is being renovated and due to open in mid-July. This time, it will not provide space to service and sell tractors; instead the building will pay homage to its creator as a place for design. Ambrose Furniture Works has developed the Brazos Valley Decorative Center to house their establishment as well as provide space for other design vendors to create a comprehensive home décor center for local interior designers and do-it-yourselfers alike.

Located at the southern gateway to Downtown Bryan and now designated as a Historic Landmark, the International Harvester building address will allow for greater accessibility and visibility for the upholstery shop, making it easier to find and providing plenty of parking. The building was chosen not only for its location, but also for its unique features. Spradley says, “It is an excellent example of post-war modern design. It has high bays, a large footprint, and parking.”

The bay areas, originally designed for servicing tractors, provide Ambrose Furniture Works with enough room to double the size of their showroom. The upper windows provide light throughout the space to allow a better environment of viewing fabric samples and matching colors. Ambrose will continue its custom furniture production, re-upholstery shop, and accent fabric sewing service in the new location, while expanding its product line and adding creature comforts like a high-end kitchen and bar.

Owner Ray Jezisek did not expect to move locations, nor have the opportunity to expand the business at this level according to Ambrose’s manager Josh Ortiz. However, the market for custom home products is expanding as consumers increasingly want their interiors to be unique and are willing to pay for the luxury. The hope is to mimic concepts in larger cities by creating a hub for interior décor and provide an equivalent level of selection and quality but with local accountability for service so that people don’t have to go out of town to get a designer look. Ortiz says, “We have a satisfaction guarantee—if you don’t like it, we want to fix it; if you love it, we want you to tell all your friends about it, and it’s important to have that here locally.”

This project has also received considerable support from the city of Bryan. Julie Fulgham, Project Planner for the City’s Development Services Department, reports “In this case, the City of Bryan has awarded a $175,000 Downtown Improvement Grant to help pay for the renovation of the façade and other site improvements, such as landscaping and parking lot construction.” This redevelopment will continue bringing retail customers downtown, thus furthering Downtown Bryan’s economic growth.