Sagewood in Phoenix completed a project in January 2021 that included a full interior renovation, integration of two new dining venues, and the addition of a new independent living building with another new dining venue. With interiors led by submitting firm Spellman Brady & Company (St. Louis), the project features an aesthetic inspired by the surrounding Sonoran Desert.
The Showcase jurors especially applauded the distinct hospitality-inspired branding created in the three dining additions: The Sonoran, The Canyon Café, and The Owl’s Nest. The result is three spaces with unique identities reinforced by menu, artwork, signage, and interior finishes. For example, The Canyon Café offers an industrial style with exposed ceilings and sliding doors, while The Sonoran showcases bright desert florals and a custom ceiling inspired by rock formations. Greater operational efficiency was gained via the project, as well, through space allocations that allowed the addition of a full kitchen and sharing of an existing central kitchen. Additionally, the jury recognized attention to small details, too, such as a backlit display shelf in the café that can be turned on to indicate the bar is open for happy hour.
