The Art Room has received an honorable mention in the Adaptive Reuse Hospitality category of the Architect’s Newspaper 2025 Best of Design Awards.
The 750-square-foot project combines a restaurant, art gallery, and architecture office, demonstrating how three distinct programs can coexist under one roof. AUX renovated an unreinforced masonry building in Downtown Los Angeles, preserving its existing envelope to create a unique space for creative work, collaboration, and social gathering from day to evening. The project diverted an estimated 150 metric tons of waste from landfills, avoided 0.267 million KgCO₂e in emissions, and achieved 50% less embodied carbon than new construction.
Inaugurated 13 years ago, AN’s Best of Design Awards honor impactful architectural work and survey the evolving built environment. This year’s jury included Barbara Bestor, Alex Bozikovic, Deborah Garcia, Rossana Hu, Bryan P. Lee Jr., Stephan Schütz, Julie Snow, Beka Sturges, Clive Wilkinson, Kelly Pau, Marty Wood, and Jack Murphy.
