Introduction: From Sandals to Spatial Poetry

In an ambitious move that combines architectural heritage with cultural renewal, the former Birkenstock campus in Novato, California is undergoing a transformation into the new Eames Museum, slated to open by 2028. Once a pragmatic site for shoe warehousing and offices, the campus will soon become a vibrant, publicly accessible space dedicated to the illustrious legacy of Ray and Charles Eames—seminal figures in American design and architecture. Spearheaded by the Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity and world-renowned architects Herzog & de Meuron with executive architect EHDD, the project exemplifies the power of adaptive reuse in shaping the future of community and cultural spaces.

Historical Context: A Modernist Industrial Gem

Original Design by John Savage Bolles (1960s)

The architectural significance of the site predates both Birkenstock and the Eames Institute. Designed in the 1960s by noted modernist architect John Savage Bolles—also known for Candlestick Park and the IBM San Jose campus—the complex was initially built for McGraw-Hill as a publishing and distribution facility. Bolles employed a bold, modernist language grounded in concrete and structural expressionism, most notably realized in the warehouse’s iconic sawtooth roof. This roofline, typified by repeating north-facing clerestory windows, allowed abundant indirect sunlight to flood the interiors—a defining feature of mid-20th-century industrial design.

The Birkenstock Era (1994–2019)

In 1994, the German footwear giant Birkenstock transformed the campus into its U.S. headquarters, taking over the 166,000-square-foot warehouse and accompanying 43,000-square-foot concrete office building. This period saw the site functioning as a logistics and administrative hub until its vacancy began in 2020, after the company relocated. Though it remained dormant, the warehouse’s modernist framework remained robust, preserving fertile ground for reinterpretation.

The Eames Institute: A New Institutional Vision

Acquisition and Mission

In 2025, the Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity, a nonprofit organization committed to preserving and amplifying the Eames legacy, acquired the site for $36 million. With a vision not just to house the Eameses’ extensive archive but to catalyze new dialogue around design, education, and innovation, the transformation of this industrial campus reflects a broader commitment to adaptive reuse, sustainability, and educational outreach.

Architectural Leadership

The redesign is led by the celebrated Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron (Tate Modern, de Young Museum), in collaboration with San Francisco-based EHDD, renowned for energy-efficient, program-rich buildings. The collaboration merges international design finesse with local insight, ensuring the project is both globally relevant and contextually sensitive.

Design Principles and Adaptive Reuse Strategy

Preserving Character, Creating Possibility

The adaptive reuse approach emphasizes architectural conservation, sustainability through embodied carbon reduction, and a deep respect for the site’s material identity. The design plans preserve the original concrete envelopes, including the warehouse’s massive structure and distinctive roofline. Restoration and reinterpretation are balanced with urban ecology—new fenestration, light wood cladding, and landscaping forge fresh connections between built form and site.

Programmatic Transformation

• Exhibition Galleries: Rotating displays from the Eames Collection will explore themes of technology, craft, and design process.
• Makerspaces and Workshops: Interactive areas for rapid prototyping, analog making, and educational creativity, true to Charles and Ray Eames’ pedagogy.
• Educational Programs: Designed for K–12 and postsecondary audiences, promoting interdisciplinary learning and design thinking.
• Public Zones: Retail areas, a café, and sprawling sculpture gardens ensure a community-focused experience that spills outdoors.

Building Techniques and Construction Strategy

Structural Integrity and Flexibility

At the core of the transformation is the concrete warehouse—a robust, adaptable structure emblematic of mid-century industrial architecture. The north-facing sawtooth clerestory configuration allows for ample daylighting without solar heat gain. This not only reduces lighting needs but also creates ideal conditions for art preservation and constructive workspaces alike.

Material Reuse and Carbon Consciousness

Instead of demolishing and rebuilding, the strategy prioritizes reuse of existing building envelopes and structural systems. This significantly reduces embodied carbon in construction—a critical consideration in today’s low-carbon design landscape. Exposed concrete is complemented with warm wood finishes, reintroducing human-scale tactility within the expansive industrial geometry.

Landscape Integration

Set at the edge of Marin County’s rolling hills, the redesigned site includes improved public paths, native plantings, enhanced stormwater features, and communal gathering zones. These open spaces serve as transitional nodes between architecture and environment, drawing visitors into an immersive and approachable cultural experience.

Spatial Organization: Museum Meets Campus

The west side of the campus houses a two-story, 43,000-square-foot concrete office building, ripe for conversion into research and administration areas. Adjacent open land will become sculpture gardens, outdoor workshops, and educational pavilions—bringing together indoor and outdoor programs in a way reminiscent of Case Study House #8, the Eameses’ own home-studio in Pacific Palisades. Maintaining an open-plan configuration throughout imbues the site with flexibility, future-readiness, and a sense of purposeful informality.

Broader Lessons for Residential and Cultural Architecture

Adaptive Reuse as a Residential Model

While distinct from residential typology, this project offers architects, developers, and home renovators insights into the possibilities of converting underutilized commercial or industrial spaces into vibrant living environments. Mid-century warehouses, schools, and office parks across North America and Australia are increasingly being re-imagined as lofts, artist housing, and live-work communities.

Design Principles with Residential Relevance

• Natural daylighting: The sawtooth roof is a textbook example of passive lighting. Similar strategies—inverted roofs, clerestories, solar tubes—can deeply impact energy use and well-being in homes.
• Flexible spatial planning: Open interiors supported by long-span concrete or steel framing afford uses that evolve over time, a principle vital in modern multi-functional homes or aging-in-place designs.
• Indoor-outdoor connection: Landscaping and plaza integration parallel high-end residential configurations, wherein homes increasingly blur thresholds between interior space and landscape design.

The Eames Ethos in Residential Design

The Eames House (Case Study #8) stands as a perennial example of how industrial materials—steel framing, glass, plywood—can create deeply warm, human-centric residential experiences. The new museum transformation channels this vision at architectural scale, once again proving that thoughtful form, responsible construction, and community focus can coexist harmoniously.

Case Studies: Benchmarks in Adaptive Reuse

Takeaways for Architects and Homeowners

• Industrial legacies can become inspirational futures: Architects should see dormant buildings not as limitations but as opportunities for bold, contextual design rooted in original character.
• Daylighting is essential: Natural light not only improves well-being but also reduces energy loads. Consider clerestory or north-facing window strategies in both new construction and retrofits.
• Flexible interiors warrant timeless function: Open plans support life’s unpredictability—be it changing family needs or public program activation.
• Marrying form with mission: Whether designing a house or a museum, deeply embedding purpose into architectural choices leads to enduring appeal and utility.