We have had the opportunity to work with several community/faith organizations. The Artesia D.E.S. is a Portuguese community organization seeking to preserve Portuguese culture and tradition in the small city of Artesia. Over the decades, the Artesia D.E.S. had outgrown its existing facilities. They approached our office to design a new bandstand, then to design a new banquet hall. We researched civic and community building styles in Portugal and the Azores Islands. We designed the new facilities respecting the community cultural traditions while incorporating all modern amenities. We left enough “room” in the design for committees of the organization to add their own touches. The new hall was designed to replace an existing building. The organization’s facilities are located in a residential neighborhood. As a result, the facility did not comply with zoning requirements. We worked with the city to modify the zoning to fit the project.
The new facility complements the existing. The new hall can seat up to 500 guests in an elegant setting. The lobby and bar provide a stylish entry to the facility. The state of the art kitchen efficiently provides meals for the guests. The kitchen is designed for volunteers to prepare meals for large festivals, and for caterers to use for weddings and other private receptions.
