After three decades, the Stremmel Gallery is still making its mark on the Reno arts scene.
The 30-year-old contemporary art gallery is in the midst of remodeling and expanding, a project that includes the addition of four commercial office spaces that the gallery plans to lease to likeminded businesses.
The vibrantly colored addition on South Virginia Street near Holcomb is hard to miss.
"The South Virginia area has been developing in a schizophrenic manner.
It has some of the best of Reno and some of the worst of Reno," said gallery owner Peter Stremmel.
"We wanted to build a landmark building, a significant piece of architecture." When Stremmel decided he needed to expand the gallery, he initially considered leaving the area.
"I asked Realtors if money was no object, which it is, where would you move the gallery," said Stremmel.
"Some told me I had to be downtown on the riverfront.
Others told me I should move south of town.
And others said I should stay here." Stremmel decided he wanted to stay put.
In addition to its well-established gallery, Stremmel has a 4,500-square-foot warehouse across the street and a nearby frame and restoration shop - all of which would have been expensive to replicate elsewhere.
The new gallery/office building was designed by Los Angeles architect Mark Mack in conjunction with Jack Hawkins, a Reno architect and soon-to-be Stremmel tenant.
It includes an addition to the gallery, which nearly doubles the business' space from its current 4,400 square feet to almost 8,000 square feet, and features 22-foot-high ceilings and a loft space.
The four commercial spaces are 1,500 square feet each and include lofts as well glass garage doors that can be lifted to open up the spaces on pleasant days.
On the outside of the building will be a large metal grid encompassing a honeycomb of about 60 lights.
"At night it will glow like a lampshade," said Stremmel.
"The building will be more spectacular in the evening than in the day time." Outside the building is planned extensive landscaping, a sculpture garden and parking for about 28 cars, said Stremmel.
Construction of the building, being done by Michael Doherty Construction, should take about 10 months, said Stremmel.
He then hopes to hold a grand opening for the remodeled gallery and new structure in April.
The innovative space attracted a long list of potential tenants, but Stremmel wanted to make sure to lease to what he calls synergistic businesses.
"They were standing in line," said Stremmel.
"I was able to select the tenants and I got the mix I was hoping for." Colliers International handled the leasing of the space.
Jack Hawkins Architects is leasing one 1,500-square-foot space.
Another office is being occupied by Octane, a local graphic design firm which plans to share the space with FLF Films, a commercial film maker.
The final two spaces are being taken by one tenant, M Home.
The interior design firm and furniture retailer is moving from its current space on Mount Rose Street, which doesn't have the room to display the firm's modern furniture, according to coowner Santiago Esparza.
M Home plans to also lease 800 square feet in Magnolia Village, at the corner of McCarran Boulevard and Lakeside Drive, where it will sell home-related gifts such as candles and vases.
At the store in the Stremmel building, M Home plans to set up in the loft area two kitchen installations as well as feature furniture for bedrooms, dining rooms and living rooms.
The space will also house the firm's design office run by Esparza's partner, Michael Hickey, which did much of the interior design for Reno's new art museum opening this spring.
"We jumped on the opportunity to be affiliated with Stremmel," said Esparza.
"We love the architecture of the new building.
It reflects our furniture."
