Pearl Brewery Redevelopment

A recipient of the ULI Global Award of Excellence, the Pearl Brewery Redevelopment features the transformational adaptive reuse of a 21-acre 1900s brewery into a self-sufficient, mixed-use “village” that houses new residents, non-profits, and local businesses while emphasizing community, conservation, and local economic development. This visionary development created a dynamic, pedestrian-oriented urban district that reflects the unique character and culture of San Antonio while revitalizing this landmark destination.

The Pearl District in San Antonio is one of the best designed and best realized urban infill plans I have seen in my career. The work of Lake Flato ... demonstrat[es] how modern design can retain its soul by reorienting itself to place: to the climate, culture, and materials of the ground on which it sits. Jeff Speck

Founder, Speck & Associates and Author, Walkable City

Historic Context

In 1883, The Pearl Brewing Company began producing its signature beer on the banks of the San Antonio River.
The facility had grown to 21 acres by the time it was abandoned and put up for sale in 2001.
To maintain the industrial character of the site, elements of the Brewhouse interior were salvaged and reused.
The design team strategized how best to integrate the site's unique historic buildings into the future development of the project.
A local preservation firm developed a historic survey plan to identify the existing structures of historic relevance that should be salvaged and renovated.

In 2002, the former brewery was purchased by a local developer who engaged an urban design team to implement a strategy to transform the brownfield site into a 850,000 sq. ft. mixed-use village. The goal of the redevelopment was to offer San Antonians a place to gather, visit, dine, share, and live that maintained the identity of the historic brewery while radically re-purposing the compound to accommodate new uses.

The redevelopment of the Pearl Brewery seemlessly blends contemporary buildings with the historic significance of the original structures. The new buildings were designed to not compete with the existing historic structures on site, but rather to reinforce the idea that the complex had been built over time. Half of the site’s 400,000 sq. ft. of existing industrial buildings have been re-used.

Pearl District Master Plan

Design Principles

In 2002, a placemaking charrette brought together developers and designers of similar projects around the country. Led by Lake Flato, the master plan created a set of design principles. First, the Pearl would be unwavering in its stewardship of its historic fabric, cultural resources, and energy conservation. Second, it would be centered on extraordinary food with a variety of dining venues. Finally, the Pearl would attract unique local tenants and residents, with community activities spilling outdoors onto plazas, patios, and public spaces.

Pearl District Master Plan

Phased Approach

For nearly a decade, the design team worked to transform the Pearl Brewery into a destination embraced by the community. Through multiple phases, the 21-acre site was transformed into a self-sufficient mixed-use village that features a balance of 432 residential units, 18,000 sq. ft. of meeting & banquet space, 121,000 sq. ft. of office space, 53,000 sq. ft. of retail space, 56,000 sq. ft. of restaurants, and 31,000 sq. ft. of culinary space that supports the Culinary Institute of America.

Pearl District Master Plan

Walkable District

Inherent in the project’s vision is a pedestrian-oriented community that reflects the unique character and culture of San Antonio. The design of the internal infrastructure was carefully scaled and detailed. Street widths were reduced to 24 feet with no curb to encourage pedestrian movement. To maintain the industrial character of the site, elements of the Brewhouse interior were salvaged and reused including machinery footings, which became bollards, and beer vats, which became water cisterns.

Pearl District Master Plan

Catalyst for Development

The Pearl Brewery has acted as a catalyst for nearby urban redevelopment and neighborhood revitalization. Located two miles from downtown and two miles from residential neighborhoods, the Pearl has reconnected these disparate parts of the city into a broader district. As part of the planning process, the Pearl connects to the River Walk and serves as its northern terminus. The design principles first established in 2002 continue to ensure the integrity of the Pearl’s growth over time.

The Pearl has become a culinary destination with more than two dozen restaurants and bars throughout the site. Many restaurants feature chefs who are graduates of the Culinary Institute of America, located on-site. Weekly pedestrian traffic averages 80,000 visitors who come to the Pearl for the Farmer’s Market or ongoing seasonal events.

In the District

Full Goods Warehouse

Lake Flato’s master plan for the redevelopment of Pearl Brewery began with redesigning the 1975 Full Goods Warehouse, an industrial space once used to store filled bottles. The original structure was preserved, but its space was made more efficient by the addition of a second story. The complex, which includes office and retail space, pivots around shaded exterior community gathering places. In addition to achieving LEED Gold, Full Goods is home to one the largest on-site solar energy projects in Texas.

Visit Project
In the District

Can Plant

Pearl Parkway houses the Can Plant, which contains 400 residential units as well as commercial and office space. The design draws upon both the Brewery’s historic architectural precedent as well as its industrial language. Six structures define a dense pedestrian-scaled urban fabric characterized by landscaped plazas and shaded sidewalks where restaurants and retail animate the street, with housing above. The site is bicycle-friendly and encourages pedestrian traffic.

In the District

Best Quality Daughter

Set in a historically significant Victorian house in the Pearl District, Best Quality Daughter is a contemporary restaurant that redefines casual modern dining in celebration of the Asian American experience. Influenced by the owner’s bicultural identity, the restaurant’s design delights in an eclectic whimsy that celebrates both local and global flavor. Set in a former domestic environs, guests feel the immediate intimacy of being welcomed into the home of a sensationally well-traveled friend.

Visit Project
It celebrates the outside and the outdoors as being great places for people. Even in a climate like San Antonio, acknowledging that through some simple modifications you can create great spaces for people outdoors is important. Jury Member

AIA Committee on the Environment