Urban Espresso & Roastery

Urban Espresso & Roastery is a coffee shop in Downtown Baton Rouge. The project location is at 232 Lafayette St., Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70801. The building is 12,000 sq ft, two floors, and was built in 1923. The site is surrounded by hotels, the Capital, and other governmental buildings, attracting many politicians and state workers. Downtown is also adjacent to up-and-coming neighborhoods, upriver from the Louisiana State University. The coffee shop must plan for a wide variety of users, including the leisurely tourist, the on-the-run politician, students meeting with a study group, and businesspeople looking for co-working spaces. For this project, we were to design a coffee shop for the first floor of this historic building. The concept for this industrial-style coffee shop merges raw, urban aesthetics with a cozy, community-driven atmosphere. Drawing inspiration from re-purposed warehouses and vintage factories, the design incorporates exposed brick walls, visible pipes, and high ceilings with structural beams, creating an environment that feels both spacious and intimate. Reclaimed wood, distressed metals, and concrete accents contrast with warm lighting to balance the space, blending rugged elements with inviting touches. Elements like greenery and leather add a contrasting warmth and organic feel, resulting in a balanced, approachable atmosphere.