The Swamp Restaurant
Gainesville, florida
The Problem:
Our challenge was to rebuild the infamous Swamp Restaurant in a new location, but matching exactly the size, shape, and look of the original that was such a Gainesville staple.
Our Solution:
Modernizing the original restaurant design, which had sparse air conditioning, aged lighting, no fire protection, and very little that would be considered Code-compliant by new construction standards was a major challenge given that the architectural features of the building were to match the old. Without adding lowered ceilings, extensive soffits, mechanical rooms or other standard aspects that a new restaurant would typically have, we provided a very customized HVAC system using state-of-the-art variable refrigerant systems that minimized installed footprint and allowed all units to be installed in the attic and other storage spaces where they were not visible. Our lighting design leaned heavily on old pictures of the original Swamp, including street view archives, to provide updated LED fixtures that matched as closely as possible the original fixture and we partnered these fixtures with modern dimming controls to provide the desired feel and ambience to mimic the charm of the old space. Externally, the building looks nearly identical to the original, but the systems and engineering functions of the new Swamp are miles ahead of that previous building and are nearly completely hidden from the customer’s view.
The CSEI DIfference:
CSEI worked extremely closely from day 1 with the Owner, tenant, architect, structural engineer, and civil engineer to fully understand the constraints of the project, the final vision and goals, as well as the budget and schedule required for the project. Rather than starting our design work down the road when the main concepts and configuration of the building was established, our early involvement led to more collaboration and idea generation around how to best hide the new MEP equipment that would be required so that the aesthetic of the restaurant could be achieved for the Client. This early coordination proved critical to delivering the end result that can now be enjoyed by future generations of Gator fans.
