commentThe Lab Gastropub
BusinessWeek/Architectural Record Awards Winner
The campus of the University of Southern California (USC) is some 2 miles from downtown Los Angeles. That fact — and L.A.’s lackluster public transit system — forces students in search of bars and bustle to drive to the city center. So in an effort to create a pedestrian-accessible hangout for students and professors, USC bought an old Sizzler restaurant just outside the campus limits with the intent of converting the building into an Irish pub.
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But L.A. architectural firm AC Martin and USC director of hospitality Scott Shuttleworth wound up creating something more innovative — a gastropub that evokes a vintage high school science classroom. Shuttleworth, who had experience in the private hospitality business, rejected the idea that the restaurant would succeed just because it was close to campus. The Lab Gastropub (“the Lab,” for short) would need to be a draw in itself.
AC Martin looked through old science textbooks for inspiration, and its research is evident throughout the bar and dining area. Walls are clad in subway tile, blackboards, and supersize graphics of scientific equipment. Christopher King, the Lab’s lead designer, says that USC allowed the firm to “design almost every element,” right down to the coffee cups, which are emblazoned with the chemical formula for caffeine. Elegant, humanizing touches keep the space from feeling clinical. A slate dining table is framed with warm-colored wood, and leather cushions cover the chrome barstools.
L.A. has taken notice. While the school expected that the USC community would patronize the Lab, it didn’t anticipate the number of locals and downtown professionals who have been frequenting the spot since its March 2009 opening. The Lab brings in some $8,000 a day, more than doubling initial projections.
Next year, the city’s new Metro-Expo line will give USC students easier access to the downtown area. But the Lab, just across the street, will likely continue to be a popular destination.
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