Cross-Programmed Spaces
Shared Spaces, Smart Design: How Cross-Programming Builds Value
For many entrepreneurs, the dream of opening a new space collides with the realities of cost. Kitchens, restrooms, offices, and storage consume square footage before a single guest has arrived.
Shared Spaces, Smart Design: How Cross-Programming Builds Value
For many entrepreneurs, the dream of opening a new space collides with the realities of cost. Kitchens, restrooms, offices, and storage consume square footage before a single guest has arrived.
One possible solution to address budget challenges we’ve been developing is to cross-program tenant spaces with multiple shared uses. Cross-programming, designing spaces that serve multiple functions or ventures, can unlock big value. It allows entrepreneurs to open faster, spend less, and foster collaboration across uses.
Shared space is not a modern invention. It is as old as the market hall, as enduring as the guild workshop, as familiar as the family table. To share is to acknowledge limits…of budget, of square footage, of financing…and to transform those limits into opportunity.
Why Sharing Works
A restroom that serves one tenant costs as much as a restroom that serves two. A kitchen built for one concept can, with foresight, sustain another. Sharing back-of-house infrastructure is a pragmatic act, but the results are far from ordinary.
Efficiency becomes a form of elegance, where every square foot pulls its weight.
Collaboration grows naturally when neighbors cross paths in shared corridors and kitchens.
Sustainability is embedded in the very logic of reuse: fewer resources built, fewer resources wasted.
Cross-programming is about creating a web of spaces that nourish each other.
Case Studies in Cross-Programming
Roji / Daruma
By day, Daruma is fluorescent light and stacked shelves, a Japanese convenience store feeding the rush of downtown. By night, Roji glows behind fabric screens, an omakase bar pared down to its essentials. What connects them is unseen: a single kitchen that sustains both. The wall is a boundary, but the shared core is a bond. Two ventures, one heartbeat. Proof that cross-programming is less about division than connection.
Takeaway / Collective
Here, a deli and a coffee shop coexist under one roof. Their brands are distinct, their menus unrelated, yet both draw from the same kitchen and office core. This arrangement trims overhead while freeing each owner to invest in identity, service, and guest experience. The shared spaces disappear into the background, leaving the public face of each business sharper, stronger.
CDW Workshops
In a maker-focused project, two workshops (a woodworking space, and a ceramics studio) hum with the sound of fabrication. Though each operates independently, their administrative core, anchored off of century-old skylights uncovered during construction, is one and the same. Shared offices reduce redundancy and spark unplanned conversations. The line between overhead and opportunity blurs, as collaboration emerges not by mandate but by adjacency.
Team B Studio
Even our own office lives by this principle. In a long, narrow floorplate, we clustered shared resources at the ends, leaving the center open for collaborative work with a fellow architecture practice. For three years, two studios overlapped, finding efficiency in constraint and camaraderie in proximity. Shared space made the modest footprint not only possible, but generative.
Design Considerations
To share space is simple; to share it well requires care.
Circulation must be intuitive, preventing friction at points of overlap.
Acoustics must preserve the character of each venture, even as they coexist.
Boundaries must be clearly drawn in leases, in schedules, in operations, so sharing remains a partnership, not a burden.
Flexibility must be built in, so spaces can evolve as businesses grow.
Good design makes room for both separation and connection, giving each program its own voice while allowing them to harmonize.
Conclusion
Shared spaces create more than savings. They create ecosystems: restaurants that support each other, workshops that cross-pollinate, offices that hum with dialogue. For small businesses, cross-programming is often the difference between an idea that remains on paper and a space that opens its doors.
As architects, our role is to design these overlaps with intention.
Local Art Integration Across Our Projects
Design + Art: How Local Collaboration Creates Memorable Spaces
When you walk into a memorable restaurant or cafe, chances are it isn’t just the food or the lighting that sticks with you. It’s often the art.
Design + Art: How Local Collaboration Creates Memorable Spaces
When you walk into a memorable restaurant or cafe, chances are it isn’t just the food or the lighting that sticks with you. It’s often the art…the mural that makes you pause, the handcrafted details that spark conversation, or the small moments of surprise that tell you, this place is special.
At Team B, we believe local art is a bridge between architecture, brand, and community. By working with artists from Cincinnati and beyond, we’ve helped clients turn their spaces into cultural touchstones that guests connect with on a deeper level.
Why Local Art Matters
Art adds dimension to design in ways that finishes alone cannot. A mural, textile, or sculpture brings in the voice of the community, grounding a project in a specific place. For entrepreneurs, that authenticity is invaluable.
It creates identity. Guests remember places with personality.
It fosters connection. Art often reflects neighborhood stories, making guests feel part of something larger.
It supports community. Collaborating with local artists keeps investment circulating within the city and builds goodwill.
For hospitality businesses, these benefits translate directly into loyalty and word-of-mouth marketing. A photo-worthy mural or striking custom feature becomes part of the brand.
Case Studies in Integration
Wildweed Mural: In a historic Walnut Street storefront, we worked with a local muralist to create a vibrant artwork that anchored the dining room. The mural reflects the energy of the brand, creating a backdrop that draws guests in and photographs beautifully.
Pettibone Coffee: At Pettibone, art isn’t static. The client commissioned local artists to create works live during events, allowing guests to witness creativity unfolding in real time. This approach turned the cafe into a stage, where the boundary between artist, guest, and space blurred.
Sen: Custom Lamp Shades. In this intimate dining space, we collaborated with a local artisan to produce custom lamp shades that softly diffuse light. Each shade carries subtle variations, reminding guests that they are surrounded by handmade craft. It’s a small touch, but one that transforms atmosphere from generic to soulful.
Decibel: Street-Facing Mural. What began as a blank white-box shell was transformed into a landmark through art. Inside, the cave-like space received its own “cave paintings”: bold Sharpie linework etched across gypsum walls. The effect is both raw and deliberate, connecting to the energy of a place that serves quick grab-and-go food by day and late-night bites after dark. More than surface decoration, the mural gave Decibel a recognizable identity visible from the street. It signaled to passersby that something distinctive was happening here, long before they stepped inside.
The Process of Collaboration
Integrating art is not as simple as “adding it at the end.” It works best when artists are brought into the process early.
Our approach typically follows three steps:
Identify opportunities: blank walls, ceiling features, lighting elements, or even furniture or dishware.
Match with talent: we use our network of local artists, or help clients run open calls to find the right partner.
Collaborate with intention: balancing artist freedom with project vision and budget.
When art and architecture are designed together, the result feels cohesive.
Conclusion
Hospitality spaces succeed when they create emotional connections. Local art does this better than any imported finish or catalog fixture. It makes spaces personal, memorable, and rooted in community.
For us, integrating local artists is both a design choice and a value to the overall success of the project. It helps build places worth caring about, while supporting the creative ecosystems that make our cities vibrant.
Our Approach to Design
A philosophy shaped by context, care, and collaboration.
Over the past decade, we’ve developed a way of practicing architecture that guides every project, no matter the scale or type. It isn’t a formula, it’s a philosophy rooted in context, care, and collaboration.
A philosophy shaped by context, care, and collaboration
Over the past decade, we’ve developed a way of practicing architecture that guides every project, no matter the scale or type. It isn’t a formula, it’s a philosophy rooted in context, care, and collaboration.
At our core, we believe in making places worth caring about. That means looking beyond square footage and finishes, and instead uncovering the stories embedded in each site, building, and neighborhood. We design with owners, guiding decisions with clarity, empathy, and creativity.
Every project is different, but the goal remains the same: to transform spaces into environments that feel inevitable, personal, and full of character.
What Sets Us Apart
Expertise with challenging spaces
We excel at turning small, historic, or unconventional properties into efficient, inviting environments.Advanced visualization tools
Our custom Rhino 3D workflow helps you “see before it’s built,” creating clarity and confidence early in the process.Local knowledge, cost-saving strategies
Our deep familiarity with Cincinnati’s codes and permitting streamlines projects and reduces surprises.Integrated design + fabrication
Through our sister fabrication studio and local fabrication partners, we can incorporate custom finish work and millwork directly into your project.
Our 3-Step Process
Step 1: Define
We begin by listening closely to your goals, studying the site, and testing feasibility. This gives you clarity on scope, budget, and possibilities from the start, saving time and avoiding costly detours later.Step 2: Design
We explore options through sketches, layouts, and materials, then refine the concept into a design that balances creativity, function, and budget. Collaboration is at the heart of this stage, so the final design feels both personal and practical.Step 3: Deliver
We translate the design into detailed drawings and documents for pricing, permitting, and construction. By coordinating consultants and staying attentive to details, we create a clear roadmap that ensures your project is ready to be built with confidence.
Construction Support
Our role doesn’t end when drawings are complete. We stay engaged during construction to make sure your project is delivered smoothly and with integrity. Acting as your advocate, we help protect your investment and ensure the final result reflects the vision we created together.
Keep the project on track by answering contractor questions quickly and clearly.
Protect your budget by resolving issues early, before they become costly changes.
Ensure quality by reviewing shop drawings and material samples against the design.
Provide peace of mind with site visits to monitor progress and flag concerns.
Maintain alignment by coordinating consultants and contractors throughout the process.
Safeguard the design intent so the finished space matches the goals you approved.
Money-Saving Tips for Tenant Build-Outs
Designing Smart: How to Save Money Without Sacrificing Quality in Tenant Improvements
Opening a new restaurant, cafe, or bar is one of the most exciting ventures an entrepreneur can take on. It’s also one of the most expensive.
Designing Smart: How to Save Money Without Sacrificing Quality in Tenant Improvements
Opening a new restaurant, cafe, or bar is one of the most exciting ventures an entrepreneur can take on. It’s also one of the most expensive. Between kitchen equipment, code upgrades, finishes, and furniture, the cost of a tenant build-out can quickly balloon. Many first-time owners are surprised to learn that the most meaningful cost savings rarely come from cutting finishes or shopping for cheaper chairs. More often, the big levers for savings are hidden in layout, phasing, and strategic value engineering.
At Team B, we’ve guided dozens of small businesses through the build-out process. Along the way, we’ve learned what truly drives costs up, and how to design projects that respect tight budgets without undermining long-term success.
Layout Impacts Staffing
One of the biggest cost drivers in hospitality is not construction, but payroll. The way a space is laid out determines how many people it takes to run it efficiently.
Take a bar, for example. If service stations are placed too far apart, you may need three bartenders to cover what could have been managed by two. A poorly organized kitchen can add thousands of wasted steps per shift. Over time, those inefficiencies compound into tens of thousands of dollars in labor costs annually.
Designing circulation with staff in mind (not just guests!) pays dividends. Tight adjacencies, logical service routes, and efficient storage access are design moves that cost little up front but save money every single day.
Spend Where It Counts, Save Where You Can
Owners are often tempted to shave dollars off line items like HVAC or kitchen exhaust. But these are exactly the systems that should never be compromised.
Instead, think of your budget in layers:
Spend on permanence. Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, life safety, accessibility upgrades. These are required for code compliance and will be extremely expensive to redo later.
Save on finishes. Countertops, lighting, and furniture can be swapped out in a future refresh. Starting with durable, affordable materials allows you to open the doors without breaking the bank.
For example, we’ve had clients choose a simple but resilient tile floor for opening day, knowing they can layer in more bespoke elements once revenue stabilizes. Prioritizing durability and function at the core, while saving “wow” moments for later phases, is a practical strategy that sets businesses up for longevity.
Phasing the Right Way
Not every element of a design has to be complete on day one. Phasing is a powerful tool when it’s done intentionally.
The key is identifying what is essential for opening day: life safety compliance, functioning kitchen, ADA accessibility, and a guest-ready front of house. Everything else can follow in Phase 2 or Phase 3.
We once helped a client open with a smaller seating footprint to keep initial construction costs in check. Six months later, after establishing their customer base, they expanded into an adjacent dining area with upgraded finishes. That phased approach allowed them to open sooner and spread investment over time, without compromising safety or guest experience.
The mistake we caution against is cutting Phase 1 costs that will cost double to fix later. Phasing should mean adding later, not redoing later.
Value Engineering Done Right
The term “VE” often strikes fear into the hearts of designers and owners alike. Too often, value engineering is a blunt instrument, stripping away character, cutting features, and diluting the vision. But when done correctly, VE is simply another way of making smart choices.
As architects, our role is to help clients distinguish between savings that matter and savings that cost more in the long run.
Bad VE: Eliminating a key lighting feature that defines the mood of the space.
Good VE: Standardizing all door hardware to one type, which reduces both purchase cost and long-term maintenance.
We’ve saved clients thousands by consolidating equipment specifications or simplifying details in ways that never impact the guest experience. The best value engineering preserves design intent while protecting the budget.
Conclusion
Building out a hospitality space will never be cheap, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With careful design, a clear phasing strategy, and value engineering that protects character, entrepreneurs can save money where it matters most. The result is not just a space that opens on time and on budget, but one that continues to save money every day through efficient operations.
At its best, architecture is a tool to align vision with resources, making dreams feasible without sacrificing identity.