The Basement
Old Reno Post Office Redevelopment
Reno, NV
-
2016
Beneath the historic Old Reno Post Office, a forgotten lower level once sealed from the public has been reborn as The Basement — a vibrant mixed-use retail and coworking destination that celebrates both the city’s industrial heritage and its emerging creative culture. The project transforms this 1930s-era postal facility, originally designed by noted architect Fredrick DeLongchamps, into a modern urban marketplace that balances grit, history, and innovation.
The Old Reno Post Office stands as one of Nevada’s most iconic Art Deco civic buildings, completed in 1934 and recognized for its limestone façade and elegant geometric detailing. When the post office relocated, the building’s lower level remained unused for decades — a cavernous, concrete space that had been stripped of purpose but not of potential. We saw the opportunity to reimagine this undercroft as a hub for local artisans.
The guiding design principle was preservation through reinvention. Rather than concealing the building’s utilitarian past, the design exposes and celebrates it. Original concrete floors, brick walls, and exposed piping were retained and integrated into an industrial-chic aesthetic that feels both authentic and contemporary.
Custom steel partitions and raw materials define flexible zones for retail, cafes, and coworking. Soft lighting, living greenery, and warm wood accents balance the space’s rawness, creating an inviting atmosphere below ground. The result is a layered environment that encourages social connection and creative energy — a modern agora beneath one of Reno’s architectural landmarks.
