Architectural Partners had outgrown their space in the historic Anheuser-Busch Brewery building and decided to purchase and restore the N&W Freight Depot building to house their burgeoning design firm. This building had the advantage of large north and south windows, private offices and conference rooms.
AP moved its design studio and offices to yet another historic structure on Lynchburg’s riverfront, in the second floor of the 1915 N&W Freight Depot Building.
On the main, ground level, AP worked with Dave Poole of Staunton, VA to open his second DPO restaurant “on the tracks.” Renovations took place in September of 2004, and a once empty main floor shell space, originally serving as the N&W Freight Room, found a new owner ready to up-fit the space as the Depot Grille.
The Depot Grille serves lunch and dinner seven days a week. The restaurant fully captures the spirit of railroading by the addition of two boxcars that serve as the restaurant’s kitchen and dry storage. It has a full view of freight trains on three live tracks, located just 100 feet north of the restaurant.
This 20,000 SF adaptive-use project was made feasible through capture of State and Federal Historic Tax Credits, and an Enterprise Zone Grant.