Originally constructed in 1894, a devastating fire claimed the historic Pearl Bottling House in 2003. Pearl salvaged as much from the rubble as possible, and hired Clayton & Little to rebuild the 13,132-square-foot structure as a modern interpretation of a lost Classical Revival jewel that would serve as a venue for emerging chefs and culinary talent.
Located at the heart of the historic Pearl campus, the Bottling Department sits along the San Antonio River and is the city’s first food hall that houses local chefs. An anchor in the Pearl campus, the building is surrounded on all sides by a mixture of residential apartments and condos, offices, retail shops, restaurants, and Hotel Emma.
Photo credit: Nick Simonite
The mixed-use campus fosters rich community and organic interaction while the Bottling Department invites visitors to dine and drink al fresco. At street level, the Bottling Department features a diverse range of stall-sized counter-service local restaurants and a common dining room while a new basement houses a speakeasy music venue, Jazz TX, with salvaged equipment from Pearl’s past.
Pulling architectural cues from historic photos and drawings of the original building, decorative brick corbeling and stone arches reference the enchanting architecture of the 1890’s. A modified version of original wood truss design accommodates a cupola, spilling light into the hall below while acting as a nightly beacon that illuminates the surrounding complex. The new interior trusses were built with Douglas fir. The new wood roof uses 3” thick laminated Western Red cedar, which allows the decking to span 13’ between trusses.
Photo credit: Nick Simonite
The food hall dining room is one big flexible space, into which the vendor stalls are inserted. The stalls themselves are materially rich; raw, steel-framed stalls with milky inset glass windows, and charred wood paneling. Backlit service bars and operable steel bi-fold windows accommodate customization by the individual vendors. Back of house kitchens designed with flexible systems allow each vendor to make the space their own. The food stalls vary in size with two larger spaces on either end of the three smaller spaces along the south wall. Running along the north side is a large bar with a ladder to access additional storage above.
Photo credit: Nick Simonite
The timeless finishes and interiors of the Bottling Department are durable and designed to age gracefully. Honed marble countertops and painted steel and copper storefronts blend with industrial era light fixtures to create a refined yet gritty dining room space. A mix of ceramic, porcelain and quarry tile is used with wood paneling, while sealed concrete floors anchor the space. Seating selections are a mix of sturdy yet modern wood stacking chairs and bar stools. Exterior finishes and furnishings are made to withstand the elements while complementing the building.
The addition of a steel and cedar patio cover overlooks Gustav’s Geysers and the lively community park, which frequently hosts community events. The porch’s skylight showcases the detailed masonry façade and provides shade, a welcome respite from the sweltering summer sun. This revived building showcases the talents of local masons, welders, woodworkers and culinary professionals featured within, restoring it as a thriving gathering place on the northern edge of downtown.
Photo credit: Nick Simonite
Clayton & Little project team
Paul Clayton, Principal
Emily Little, Project Architect Sam Manning, Project Architect
Charlotte Baham, Project Manager Adam O’Sullivan, Project Designer Joe Holm, Interior Design
Consultant team
Clayton & Little (architecture and interior design)
Campbell & Associates Consulting Engineers, Inc. (building shell structural engineering)
Beicker Martinez Engineering (wood truss engineering)
Pape-Dawson Engineers, Inc. (civil engineering)
Jordan & Skala Engineers (MEP engineering)
TenEyck Landscape Architects (landscape architect)
Bos Lighting Design (lighting design)
Restaurant Services Inc. (kitchen designer)
Raba Kistner Consultants (geotechnical engineering)
Nick Simonite (photography)
Materials
Exterior
Primary Exterior Material (Salvaged brick from Curtis Hunt Restorations)
Secondary Exterior Material (LaHabra Perma-Finish Stucco: color, Bay Ridge; texture, Santa Barbara)
Primary Roofing (G.A.F: Tan Ruberoid, Modified Bitumen Roofing)
Secondary Roofing (Mangold Roofing: Custom hand-seamed Paint Grip Metal)
Primary Windows/Exterior Doors (Coast to Coast Manufacturing: Steel Windows and Doors, Series 1750, Narrow Muntins)
Primary Exterior Door Hardware (Rocky Mountain Hardware: Olympus Pull, White Bronze Light)
Photo credit: Nick Simonite
Interior
Primary Interior Flooring (Sealed Concrete)
Secondary Interior Flooring (Dal-Tile: 8×8 Ashen Grey Quarry Tile)
Primary Interior Tile (Pratt & Larsen: 4×4 PR97, Matte)
Secondary Interior Tile (Pratt & Larsen: R147, Glossy)
Interior Paint (Benjamin Moore Hale Navy HC-154)
Specialty Interior Finish (BASWAphon: 70mm Classic Fine Finish Sound Absorbing Plaster)
Primary Countertop (Bianco Borealis: 3cm, Honed Finish)
Primary Interior Door Hardware (Rocky Mountain Hardware: Olympus Pull, White Bronze Light)
Secondary Interior Door Hardware (Schlage: AL53PD Saturn)
Photo credit: Nick Simonite
Plumbing Fixtures
Lavatories (Custom cast concrete sink)
Toilets (Kohler: Kingston K-4323, White)
Light Fixtures
Primary Interior Downlight (The Urban Electric Co.: Malplaquet, white) Interior Sconces (Restoration Hardware: Grand Edison Glass Sconce) Step Light (Bega: 2379 LED, Bronze)
Exterior Architectural Fixture (Flux Metal Studios: Custom) Landscape Fixture (Kim Lighting: Sign/Wall Lighter 4300 Series)
Exterior Furnishings
Dining room chairs (Ercol: Model 392)
Dining room table (Custom red oak table)
Patio chairs (Atelier de Troupe: Bistro)
Patio table (Custom marble table)
