KTGY Designed Mass Timber Art Gallery Will be Beacon of Creativity, Inspiration in San Jose Community

Located in the heart of downtown Morgan Hill, Edes Building attracts residents and tourists alike with a community-inspired, multi-use design

SAN JOSE, CALIF. – KTGY, a leading full-service architecture, branding, interior and planning firm focused on residential, retail, hospitality and mixed-use developments, today announced the Edes Building was awarded a building permit and is set to break ground in early Q2. A mixed-use art gallery and wine bar in Morgan Hill, California, located in Morgan Hill’s downtown area, Edes Building is designed to knit together a multi-use art gallery and pedestrian promenade to re-engage a key downtown intersection.

Edes Building, which is anticipating completion in Q2 2023, will provide two levels of open gallery space, allowing for art displays, display-style storage, and a variety of art classes, along with a wine bar, café, and views of the surrounding rolling hills.

Featuring architectural elements that create a captivating, sculpture-like exterior and a contrastingly light interior, the building is designed to be a piece of art in itself. Inspired by the local landscape, the differentiated aesthetic of Edes Building draws on timber construction in an eclectic urban context. Mass timber, a sustainable material chosen for its organic finish, is echoed throughout the interior – creating a unique experience compared to the standard white-box approach of more traditional galleries. While offering a more sustainable and economical option than a concrete or steel structure, timber has a natural appeal that is leveraged throughout the interior and exterior of the building.

Drawing on the movement of visitors, Edes Building brings the outdoors in with large windows open to Morgan Hill’s charming downtown while creating an intriguing and flexible space. The first floor will consist of large glass panels designed to engage visitors and offer a preview of displayed art, while a lantern-inspired staircase entices visitors from the light and open first floor to an equally open second floor providing additional gallery space and the ability to host various community art classes and events.

“Edes Building provided an exciting opportunity for KTGY to break the mold of traditional art galleries,” said Sean Martino, associate principal at KTGY. “By embracing the surrounding rolling hills and greenery, along with the movement of downtown, we were able to design a flexible gallery that serves the community through art and entertainment while paying homage to the history of Morgan Hill.”

Edes Building is the first development for which KTGY has provided both architectural and interior design. It offers a unique challenge to create a versatile design that embraces the building’s mass timber structure and blends the warmth of the wood with an airy, modern design. Custom shelving and display units will accommodate a myriad of art, including canvas and prints, jewelry, pottery, and glass pieces. Custom-made rotating walls are designed to pivot and adjust the flow of gallery visitors to accommodate various-sized art pieces and create a flexible yet unified space. Additionally, the first-floor gallery leads to a wine bar with modern furniture, a functional seating area and a combination of displayed wine and art pieces inspired by the surrounding rolling hills and outdoors.

“Our integrated approach has resulted in a holistic design that complements the architecture and meets the gallery’s needs to host a diverse collection of art,” said Gina Deary, principal in KTGY’s interior design and branding studio. “The building itself is designed to be a piece of art, and we wanted to capture the uniqueness of this venue and allow it to be a beacon of creativity and inspiration in the community.”

Previously, the site was host to Edes Grocery Store, the first business on the site in the 1920s, which inspired the name for the development, and most recently, a pop-up park that sparked the need for community engagement through art and connectivity. With the goal of re-engaging the community, the design of the gallery offers experiences beyond simply viewing art. With an emphasis on building connections, Edes is designed to blend both social and artistic experiences in the heart of downtown Morgan Hill.

KTGY partnered with property owner, Dan McCranie; Twelve22 Ventures, who serves as the construction manager; KPFF, who serves as the civil engineer; K2D, who serves as the mechanical and plumbing engineer; RANA, who serves as the landscape architect; John A. Martin Associates, who serves as structural engineer; and Chromatic, who serves as lighting designer on this exciting new development.

“Dan McCranie is a pioneer that is elevating the arts and culture experience in Morgan Hill. We are fortunate for his vision, commitment, and passion for the arts,” said City of Morgan Hill Assistant City Manager, Edith Ramirez. “KTGY’s design of the Edes Gallery masterfully uses Cross Laminated Timber, an eco-friendly sustainable material which offers an aesthetically pleasing contemporary design while honoring the site’s historical significance.”