DRIFT Santa Barbara

2024 Design Awards Citation Recipient

The 45-key hotel in the heart of downtown at 524 State Street is a modern reincarnation of a 20th-century hotel that once lived in this space. The building has stood for over 100 years and is one of the only downtown survivors of the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake. Most recently, the space served as the home of the Church of Scientology for the last decade, an establishment known by the community but only from outside the walls. We approached this project by keeping the mystery alive while bringing an unexpected and design-forward travel experience to the popular leisure area. Through impactful and intentional design decisions, the team brought modern life to a building inaccessible to most of the community for so long, bringing a breath of fresh air to downtown catering to all. Drift Santa Barbara incorporates raw materials such as concrete and steel and a beautiful juxtaposition of the new modern interiors and protected Mediterranean exteriors.

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A beautiful adaptive reuse of an existing building that combines a very simple restoration of the exterior with a very careful insertion of well-designed interiors. This is a well-executed, beautiful project that captures the spirit of Santa Barbara.

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Measure 1: Design for Integration

The hospitality suites are minimal – coming in at an average of 170 sf per unit, they remove all of the excess commonly found in comparable hotels yet remain luxurious and usable. The exterior improvements to the historic façade are minimal and intentional – preserving the arched windows, white stucco, and terracotta tiles, which exemplify the “Santa Barbara style.” In contrast, the interiors break this mold; Concrete, white oak, and steel provide an unexpected twist– softened with Raffia, linen, and handmade accents, resulting in a beachy and seductive interior. The project offers exceptional protection from severe weather shifts. It’s walls are extrememly thick, and with modest glazing it sees high stability in all seasons.

Measure 2: Design for Equitable Communities

Community – This project is an adaptive reuse of an underused building. It’s always been a part of the urban fabric of Santa Barbara & now it’s open to the community in a way it never has been. Human Connection is emphasized with it’s frontage spilling onto State Street – engaging both locals and visitors.

Measure 3: Design for Ecosystems

Every inch of rainwater is captured within the footprint of the site. Permeable pavement + water catchment provides filtration & percolation back into the water table. Local Plants are utilized in planters, providing habitat for pollinators. All selected lighting is Dark Sky Compliant. The site was previously developed & additions were kept minimal to add only what is necessary for the client’s program.

Measure 4: Design for Water

Fixtures and appliances conform to low water use; we collect all stormwater, filter it, and disperse it back into the water table. Santa Barbara’s watershed is historically endangered, leading us to create a positive impact on it.

Measure 5: Design for Economy

This project utilized the existing square footage and added a relatively small portion of new/re-built area. The spaces of this hall were intentionally made compact, the coffee shop is sized to always seem busy, as is the restaurant/bar. The Suites are very compact – ours are between 160-180 for most. We optimized all the appliances and thermal mass materials to keep the energy cost as low as possible. The room size makes for a very effective and sustainable hotel with thermal mass, cross-ventilation options, rain collection, low-wattage appliances, and recycling of the old building.

Measure 6: Design for Energy

This is a renovation of a historic building Rooms are provided with operable windows and 36″ thermal walls that regulate walls, masonry & concrete. All of the existing doors and windows were replaced with higher performing units, replaced all mechanical systems with higher efficient ones & water heaters, all while keeping the historical building intact.

Measure 7: Design for Well-Being

Natural light is brought into the upper level rooms through a series of skylights, this light is in turn brought into some of the rooms through the use of clearstories above the entry doors. Existing windows on the property line were limited (as no new penetrations were allowed) and protected to ensure natural light into those rooms. Materials were selected to be natural and omit chemicals from the “chemicals list of concerns” list. We also undertook abaitment of existing lead, asbestos, and mold in the historic building as a major component of work.

Measure 8: Design for Resources

The existing project was reinforced Masonry, unfortunately, due to code changes, new structural steel moment frames & shotcrete were required to further provide structural stability. Local / recycled aggregate was used in the concrete ad-mixture where possible. The interiors, locally sourced materials, and reclaimed materials were salvaged & repurposed. The existing beams & rafters were structurally reinforced & retained wherever possible. These include beams on the upper levels, and each room features an accent wall of salvaged 4x framing that was ripped & applied in a new manner above each headboard.

Measure 9: Design for Change

The existing building has lasted for well over 100 years, but had started decaying significantly. It had been one of the only downtown survivors of our great Quake in the 1920’s. It had minor shoring work done over the years, but as a part of this project we did extensive work to retain the existing solid masonry walls, adding rebar, shotcrete, steel frames, and other features. Existing wood framing was reclaimed and re-used on site for both walls and asethetic improvements. The wood joists were soldiered.

Measure 10: Design for Discovery

DRIFT Santa Barbara embodies discovery through material exploration, biophilic design, and advanced technologies. We experimented with locally sourced, sustainable materials to craft a distinctive aesthetic reflecting Santa Barbara’s spirit. Embracing biophilic principles, we incorporated extensive natural materials and natural light to enhance guest well-being. Energy-efficient systems, such as smart climate control and water recycling, were integrated to minimize the building’s carbon footprint. This project sets a benchmark for sustainable hospitality, seamlessly blending innovation with the city’s rich architectural heritage.