postino Annex
Tempe, AZ
Vital Stats:
Opened: 2014
Owned: Upward Projects
Size: +/- 4,500 SF
Team: Brick & West Design, Shannon Construction, RSP, MSA Consulting Engineers
Located in the heart of Tempe, Postino Annex is a thoughtful study in adaptive reuse—transforming a modest 1940s-era schoolhouse into a vibrant, social wine café while preserving the building’s inherent character. The design leans into the authenticity of the original structure, exposing its brick envelope and soaring wood trusses to create a volume that feels both expansive and approachable. Polished concrete floors and a restrained material palette provide a quiet backdrop, allowing the patina of the historic shell to remain the primary architectural gesture.
At the center of the space, a large indoor–outdoor bar anchors the experience, with operable glass garage doors dissolving the boundary between interior and patio. This permeability is key to the project’s identity—embracing the climate and social energy of Tempe while encouraging a fluid, communal dining environment. Outside, a huge patio framed by steel planters and informal landscaping extend the architecture into the open air, reinforcing a casual, lingering atmosphere. Inside, a layered mix of lighting, local artwork, and wine-lined partitions create moments of intimacy within the larger volume, balancing the building’s horizontal scale with a warm, human-centered hospitality experience.
Photography by Mark Lipczynksi.
In the news
AZ Central | Phoenix New Times | Phoenix Business Journal | Mill Avenue District | Phoenix Business Journal (2) | AZ Central (2) | AZ Family | Phoenix New Times (2)
From Instagram
Vital Stats:
Opened: 2014
Owned: Upward Projects
Size: +/- 4,500 SF
Team: Brick & West Design, Shannon Construction, RSP, MSA Consulting Engineers
Located in the heart of Tempe, Postino Annex is a thoughtful study in adaptive reuse—transforming a modest 1940s-era schoolhouse into a vibrant, social wine café while preserving the building’s inherent character. The design leans into the authenticity of the original structure, exposing its brick envelope and soaring wood trusses to create a volume that feels both expansive and approachable. Polished concrete floors and a restrained material palette provide a quiet backdrop, allowing the patina of the historic shell to remain the primary architectural gesture.
At the center of the space, a large indoor–outdoor bar anchors the experience, with operable glass garage doors dissolving the boundary between interior and patio. This permeability is key to the project’s identity—embracing the climate and social energy of Tempe while encouraging a fluid, communal dining environment. Outside, a huge patio framed by steel planters and informal landscaping extend the architecture into the open air, reinforcing a casual, lingering atmosphere. Inside, a layered mix of lighting, local artwork, and wine-lined partitions create moments of intimacy within the larger volume, balancing the building’s horizontal scale with a warm, human-centered hospitality experience.
Photography by Mark Lipczynksi.
In the news
AZ Central | Phoenix New Times | Phoenix Business Journal | Mill Avenue District | Phoenix Business Journal (2) | AZ Central (2) | AZ Family | Phoenix New Times (2)
From Instagram