Creative Civilization Celebrates Revitalization Of 1930’s Building.

Auditorium Circle, an area in the heart of downtown San Antonio known for cultural events at the Municipal Auditorium, has a new face on the block with the completion of a 9-month revitalization project. Creative Civilization – An Aguilar/Girard Agency is the anchor tenant at 106 Auditorium Circle occupying the entire 15,000 square foot second floor.

“We are proud to contribute to the economic development of San Antonio as one of the 30,000 small businesses in the community that employs 80% of the city’s workforce,” said Al Aguilar, chairman & CEO, Creative Civilization. “We are equally honored to be the impetus for the transformation of this building and the contribution it makes to the revitalization of downtown San Antonio.

The completion of the adaptive reuse project, designed by architectural firm FisherHeck, was celebrated during an open house hosted by Creative Civilization. In what was once a Studebaker showroom, guests will now enjoy the inspirational feel of the new and unique metropolitan loft-style office space, colorful sights of the new façade and the distinctive art selections.

“It is rare to find a commercial building of this age with so much natural light. Fortunately the needs of a car showroom and a contemporary office are the same: put as much space on one level as possible, install windows on all four sides, and place three giant light monitors to bring light into the interior of the space,” said Lewis Fisher, president, FisherHeck Architects. “The historic interior is also distinctive because the concrete structure was engineered with spans of 40 feet between columns, which give us the wonderfully open space we have today.”

Referred to as “Project Inspiration,” the adaptive reuse project enhances the aesthetic environment of Auditorium Circle and provided a new vibrant tenant to a corner of downtown that was once just a parking lot and abandoned building. The offices have a cosmopolitan look that is a blend of the historic industrial loft with bold contemporary colors, dynamic textures, and exciting artwork.

“It was very exciting to work with clients that are experienced in developing a dynamic architectural space. Creative Civilization’s former offices were striking, with bright colors and art. We knew we would have to stretch our skills to meet their standards,” said Lewis Fisher, president, FisherHeck. “It was easy for Gisela and Al to understand what we were working to achieve. They supported our efforts with wise choices, selecting the best options for the space.”

Inside the offices, the visitor has long vistas across the space, but other views are controlled by the varied height partitions that focus your attention on the artwork, or the city outside.

Additional features of the new space include three giant light monitors, a loft in one of the light monitors appropriately named “Cloud 9,” and the original 1930s ramp used to move Studebakers from one floor to the next.

“We are in the optimal space as we prepare for our next phase of growth. It is a space unlike any other in San Antonio,” said Gisela Girard, president & COO, Creative Civilization. “Inspiration is all around us as we continue to produce award-winning creative work for our valued clients.”