Freedom Blend Coffee

ETHOS Design Group, Inc.

Recognitions: AIA Iowa Impact Award 2019

Project Description

Freedom for Youth, a non-profit organization providing educational and life skills training to youth in Des Moines, purchased an old car wash adjacent to their offices and transformed it into Freedom Blend Coffee. The full service coffeehouse includes a full kitchen, roast room, patio, and drive-thru. The design also includes an assembly room. The space was designed to be flexible to allow for the variety of activities Freedom for Youth and community partners would host. The design features a lodge atmosphere with stone fireplace and reclaimed deck-wood. Large donated logs flank the custom-designed wood plank coffee bar. Custom booths and tables designed with reclaimed wood provide comfortable conversation space with wooden ceiling clouds and warm, rustic lighting. Polished concrete floors add to the rustic feel. Glass doorways allow natural light to enter the dining space. The stone fireplace is surrounded by a soft seating area with tree stump accent tables and vaulted wood ceiling. Paint colors warm the interior space and emphasize key features like the fireplace and roast room. A patio off the hearth-room extends their seating capacity featuring a pergola and privacy screen with the stone fireplace visible. An assembly room is used for training and community functions continues the lodge theme. The design successfully created a space to empower youth and serve as a community gathering space.