Pivot North Architecture
Lot size: 0.52 acres
Project size: 7,620 sq. ft.
Location: Garden City, ID
Design Team
Pivot North Architecture / Architect
John King, AIA / Principal in Charge
Ian McLaughlin, AIA / Project Manager
Michael McHugh / Project Designer
Collaborators
Jed Glavin / Owner
Pivot North Architecture / Architect
Jordan-Wilcomb Construction, Inc. / Contractor
Civil Site Works / Civil Engineer
Parametrix Engineering / Topographic & Boundary Survey
Rodney Evans + Partners, PLLC / Landscape Architect
DC Engineering, Inc. / Structural Engineer
DC Engineering, Inc. / Mechanical Engineer
DC Engineering, Inc. / Electrical Engineer
Kovichco Interiors / Interiors
Allwest / Geotechnical Engineer
Split Rail Winery is an exploration of creating a functioning winery aimed at supporting the growth and cultivation of a vibrant local wine culture. Working closely with the client, the design team focused on developing a building that could accommodate future growth as well as a tasting room that expressed Split Rail’s unique character.
The production side of the winery is housed in a pre-manufactured metal building to allow for the clear spans and head height necessary for producing, aging and storing wine. From the adjoining tasting room, customers can glimpse the barrel storage and activity going on beyond while enjoying a variety of intimate seating options. The exposed roof structure and beams reference back to the industrial feeling of their previous location, keeping with the funky and raw environment.
The L-shaped plan gives the flexibility to partition off the tasting room and host events, while an overhead door at the north side allows food trucks to pull up and serve food on special occasions. Large expanses of glazing and double doors spill out onto an enclosed patio where patrons can enjoy the outdoors and views of the foothills.
Creating a usable exterior space was challenging due to the site constraints and busy street corner. To provide visual and sound mitigation from adjacent traffic, the design team created a metal fence that gradually steps down as it wraps the street corner. The metal panels of the fence function as an extension of the building’s façade and incorporate a gate off 32nd to invite passersby coming from the Greenbelt or adjacent wineries.
The team explored several exterior cladding options, including a more subdued palette, but landed on brightly painted and unpainted cold-rolled steel panels referencing the adjacent used car lots and repair shops. Select panels are painted a vivid teal or pink to align with the winery’s brand and catch people’s attention driving down the heavily commercialized Chinden Blvd. Murals from a local artist incorporated into the building’s façade break down the scale and further tie in with Split Rail’s identity.
