37 NORTH FIRST EAST: Driggs, Idaho

To respond to the rapid growth of the Teton Valley, Idaho area, Dubbe~Moulder Architects wanted to open a second office in Driggs, Idaho to more personally serve our Idaho clients as well as the immediate and surrounding communities.

In the spring of 2002, a suitable property was found one block east of Main Street in Driggs, Idaho. In addition to an existing house and garage, the property also included a 50’ x 40’ shop building. Envisioning an easier, more affordable commercial adaptation of the shop building than the house, the firm decided to redevelop the existing structure into an office building with two separate leasable spaces, which share an entry vestibule. The smallest office enters from under the protection of a 10’ wide overhang. With the garage door removed from the front of the building, the new facade, with its bank of windows, brings natural light to the office spaces within. A mix of horizontal and vertical siding adds interest to the exterior and an overhang covered in corrugated, galvanized steel creates a sense of entry and provides shade for the windows. Our Driggs office in February 2002, the final result was a very successful example of adaptive re-use of “found” space.