GARDEN LEVEL \ 2025 AIA ND Merit Award

Established in 1984 alongside the Radisson hotel and parking ramp in downtown Fargo, the former Firestone service center operated for more than three decades before closing in 2015. What followed was nearly ten years of vacancy. Developers struggled to envision a viable reuse for the largely underground space, which was burdened by oil-soaked soils from seven in-ground lifts, grease-covered insulation, a leaking west wall caused by poor ramp drainage, limited visibility from the street, and no accessible entry. Positioned beneath a parking structure, the building also posed complex thermal, energy, and moisture challenges. What had once been a recognizable corner at 2nd Avenue and 4th Street, remembered for stacks of tires in the showroom windows, quietly faded from public awareness.

Where others saw constraints, we saw opportunity. As Craftwell, we embraced the raw, underutilized shell and approached the project as both a technical and experiential transformation. Early efforts focused on environmental remediation, life safety, accessibility, and reworking core infrastructure. From there, weekly on-site meetings shaped the design through an iterative process of sketching details, refining a material language, and evaluating each decision in relation to the whole. Designing with intent is fundamental to how we practice. We prioritize process and thoughtful evolution over quick results, allowing the project to reveal itself over time.

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As part of the broader revitalization of the adjacent property, we reimagined the space as Craft Events, transforming a forgotten downtown corner into a new place to gather. The former showroom overlooking the shop floor became layered gathering spaces defined by deliberate sequencing. From the street entry, guests move as though passing through a backyard toward a neighborhood celebration off the alley. A screened-in patio provides safety and partial privacy while maintaining a connection to the city’s evening atmosphere. Inside, a warm yet moody palette, black ceiling panels, and a lowered wood surface above the bar create intimacy at any scale. Artwork by local artists reinforces the venue’s purpose as a place for community, support, and connection.

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What once sat vacant for nearly a decade now emits a soft glow at the corner of downtown Fargo, demonstrating how thoughtful, process-driven design can reshape both perception and experience of space.