There’s nothing like taking in America’s pastime at one of the country’s major ballparks. Modernized stadiums now boast an array of food options and premium amenities, everything from a suite with a swimming pool to golf simulators.
For Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, fabrication studio Tecture collaborated with Gensler to reimagine a space with nods to the classic game. Housed within the 1909 Western Metal Supply Co. building — a registered historic landmark — Budweiser Loft celebrates the character of the structure to provide a unique setting for guests. Raw materials are emphasized throughout, from exposed ceilings to concrete floors. Steel and woodwork frame the fifth-level space, and a new grand staircase connects directly to the renovated rooftop.
Decorative items previously found in the spot had a dated style and were removed. “The feature wall had baseballs that formed an American flag, but it was quite old and every piece had shifted,” said David Michael, chief creative officer at Tecture. “Gensler, as the driver of the design, wanted something more elevated.” Baseballs and bottles, staples at any stadium, were indeed given a makeover, and were cleverly utilized in pieces that complement the brick in the Budweiser Loft, a reserved section for the beer brand’s clients.
Even though not every attendee has access to the loft, there are still plenty of people that pass through it. The designers realized that fans would want a closer look, or take pictures in front of these artworks. Yet with items that can be easily damaged in a high-traffic area, several factors were considered. “Maintenance and durability determine the location and interaction points,” Michael explained. Placement on the walls was ideal, both to reduce risk of breakage and to highlight these nods to the Padres.
The ball wall includes 525 baseballs surrounded by an aluminum frame, 146 gold (instead of the team’s basic yellow) and 379 in a dark brown, with an interlocking S and D at the center. The balls are attached to a poly-laminate backer on plywood, connected with both glue and hardware to keep them from rotating.
A perfect example of reuse, 720 empty Budweiser bottles were gathered and cleaned for the bottle wall. Each bottle is put in a round slot in a CNC-perforated frame covered with Chemetal’s 943 Waterworld embossed aluminum in polished bronze. The amber tone of the bottles echoes the dominant hue of the Padres franchise, while the textured metallic finish adds shine.
With their shop just five miles away from Petco Park, Tecture employees were able to build and complete the installations on a tight timeline. Colors and materials are merged here seamlessly, pairing two identities yet still keeping them distinct. Tecture specializes in a variety of hospitality and corporate projects, and most specifiers prefer personalization in offices rather than relying upon signage or logos to take center stage, which can often be overwhelming in an interior.
Businesses like to focus on their stories and activities, weaving these aspects into every part of the design. “Companies want things that are themed around what they do, that’s the inspiration,” Michael noted. “They are bringing in more of the cool coffee bars, game rooms or lounges, because they want to give people a certain level of happiness while they’re working.”
The loft’s custom features add a sense of refinement to the casual space, which looks and feels natural, the fulfillment of Gensler’s vision which was fully embraced by the Tecture staff. “These installations speak to the Budweiser and Padres brands, and the stadium itself,” Michael explained. “They are backdrops for fun, Instagram-worthy moments at the ballpark, but they are still elegant pieces.”
