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McCormick Architects, Designers and Builders, Inc.

http://www.steelnet.net/mccormick/

61c Cafe

The 61C Cafe provides Pittsburgh with a fashionable venue in a familiar neighborhood. The cafe's namesake is a popular bus route that stops right outside its doors. Nestled in a busy, commercial corner of Squirrel Hill, the cafe provides a pleasant relief from the surrounding activities. A comfortable and sublime ambience invites the patrons in to experience the rich variety of color and texture that the interior provides. Cast stone scrolls filter in sunlight during the day, while crisply detailed birch panels on custom-designed cabinetry lend modern sophistication. The rich back-drop of rag-painted cream and coffee colored walls with long, soft streaks of cranberry chalk provides warmth and comfort. The casual atmosphere is complete with the handcrafted paper wall scones and ceiling cones that were designed and fabricated by the architects. Wall scones provide flexibility to adjust to varying light requirements of the individual tables, while the ceiling cones in the refurbished coffer and above the service counter highlight their respective locations. Though the spatial quality suggests a more lavish budget, the total cost of construction amounted to $35,000. A key to the success of the project was the extent of collaboration between the client and the architect.