The jury awards a Commercial Design Citation of Merit for Lucabe Coffee Co., originally the Eastbrook Branch of the Irwin Union Bank, located in the modernist city of Columbus, Indiana. Designed by Harry Weese in 1961, the building exemplified the considerations of the Motor Age, featuring four drive-through windows and a large parking area just outside of a major arterial road. Owners Alissa and Tyler Hodge fell in love with the building when they first moved to Columbus, and with the recent proliferation of biking and pedestrian paths in the area, they saw an opportunity to adaptively reuse the unique structure as a new coffee house and gathering space for the community. The floor in particular was an achievement. Tyler led the efforts over nights and weekends to remove carpeting and multiple layers of glue. The beauty of the green-tinted slate floor was restored and it is now the centerpiece of the building. One of the four large tower elements required structural engineers and skilled tradespeople to restore its drive-thru functionality, and the bank vault was transformed into a children’s area. Throughout the process, Landmark Columbus Foundation helped guide the owners and connect them with qualified professionals. 

Tyler and Alissa Hodge

Tyler and Alissa Hodge (Owners, Lead Designers, Construction Project Managers); Abe Skinner, Skinners Custom Construction (Lead Contractor); David Doup, Taylor Brothers Construction (Construction Consultant); Mark & Chisato Daugherty, Daugherty Design Plus (Architectural Designers); Richard McCoy and Landmark Columbus Foundation (Consultant); Nading Mechanical (Plumbing & Mechanical); Forster Electric (Electrician); Brian and Linda Tielking, Dan and Sabra Hodge (Construction); Lucabe Coffee Co. Staff; and many other consultants and contractors