PROJECT DETAILS
PROJECT NAME
Torchy’s Tacos, South Congress
LOCATION
Austin, Texas
CLIENT/OWNER
Torchy’s Tacos
PROJECT TYPES
Commercial , Hospitality
PROJECT SCOPE
New Construction
SIZE
2,997 sq. feet
YEAR COMPLETED
2016
PROJECT STATUS
Built
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
FROM THE ARCHITECTS
After several years of testing and establishing a design language embodying the Torchy’s Tacos brand, mainly through the design and construction of interior finishouts and second generation remodels, Chioco Design was commissioned to create their new flagship location. The ground-up building, located along Austin’s iconic South Congress Ave., is situated on the site formerly occupied by Fran’s Hamburgers, an Austin based restaurant established in the 1970’s that symbolized a nostalgia for the archetypal Texas drive-in diner. Chioco Design set out to create a building able to respect its iconic setting, allude to its historic roots and fulfill the needs of a modern restaurant.
Consciously referencing the archetypal 50’s-era drive-in diners, Chioco Design developed an iconographic structural ‘X’ & ‘Y’ form traversing the length of the block facing South Congress Ave. These bright red columns support a crenellated roof profile extruded through the entire building, seamlessly connecting inside to out, and allowing for the addition of numerous north-facing skylights which provide an abundance of consistent natural light. Steel planters and tree wells extend out to the sidewalk and street to act as an inviting and accessible area adjacent to the vibrant energy of South Congress Ave.
Drawing from a carefully developed and dynamic material palette from previous Torchy’s locations Chioco Design implemented the now-symbolic red road reflectors across the western facade emphasizing the eclectic character of the neighborhood.
Encaustic cement tiles are thoughtfully used around the interior and exterior, even materializing as a flooring surface to distinguish the entrance and queuing area. Brightly colored custom fabricated light fixtures hover above both bar areas serving as a significant contrast to the white ceilings during the day and brilliantly illuminating the space at night. Half-height board-formed concrete walls, a staple of the Torchy’s brand, serve to direct traffic and act as a compliment to the warm wood tones found around the space.
Post by Selin Ashaboglu
February 24, 2016
All photos by Patrick Y. Wong
