The Lewis Collaborative occupies a former school, commonly called the Ward Building. On the heels of many additions over the years, this development effort aims to unify the building complex and its grounds.  The Lewis Collaborative is currently home to an incubator co-working space, a café, and individual residences, a mix of uses which requires a modern approach within a historic framework.

DTLS proposed a contemporary weathered steel retaining wall which acts as a wayfinding element at the two primary entries. This element serves as signage, helps to mitigate variations between the existing grade and the historic stone wall, and sets the tone for contemporary and industrial accents inside the building.

The architecture of the Lewis Collaborative is set around two interior courtyards. These framed gems are envisioned as respite spaces, and are meant to be spill-out areas for collaboration and daily life. Enhanced by new pavements, planting, and furnishings, the courtyards are the new center of the building and student life.