Blanco Urban Venue is a premier event space located within a 150-year-old brick shell on San Pedro Street, a vibrant dining and nightlife destination found in the heart of San Jose, California’s historic downtown core nearby the well-known San Pedro Square Market. The intent for this adaptive reuse project was to transform the existing vacant site, which had been previously used as the property’s surface-level parking lot. The vision was to build a new structure within the historic walls and create a dense three-story venue for hosting weddings and other private events.
The client’s project goals were to create a successful new event venue which had been missing from Downtown, reconceive the existing project site based on the unique vision for Blanco, and contribute to the thriving local area surrounding it.
The final design and branding concept “Blanco” created a bright and minimalistic, yet charming destination that now provides a creative blank slate for venue customers and offers a mix of indoor and outdoor settings for any event. Spaces include a ground-floor great room, a second-floor open-air mezzanine and balcony, and a roof terrace with skyline views. The terrace fireplace, olive trees, and bistro lights transform the rooftop space into a truly memorable scene under evening stars. Beyond aesthetics, Blanco is also designed with functional amenities like its first floor catering kitchen and supporting service areas above, as well as a private suite for guests to use during events.
The Blanco Urban Venue adaptive reuse urban infill project completely transformed its existing site which was previously grossly underutilized real estate, serving only as a surface-level parking lot. In converting said undervalued space, the infill of the property’s existing brick shell was a smart and sustainable choice made to recycle the old structure. The multi-story project was designed vertically to maximize height inside the limited site area; these additional floors then complimented the downtown skyline for passersby and created healthy open-air spaces for the Blanco guest experience.
Since its opening, Blanco Urban Venue has become a sought-after destination in Silicon Valley and a viable venture for the client. Through the dynamic nature of the event spaces and the aesthetic flexibility the “Blanco” concept creates, any group can imagine their event in this location. The venue and their clients are bringing people together to celebrate, but also bringing people to San Jose, some for the very first time. Blanco is enchanting guests inside the space and then introducing them to the beloved city outside. The impact cannot be measured, but the memories created here will result in more parties, returning tourists, and perhaps new residents who also want to invest in San Jose.
Client: Blanco Urban Venue
Photographer: Gabe Gonzalez (Drone Shots) & The Vanity Portrait Studio (Event Photos from Habitec's 50th Anniversary Celebration)
Architecture
