Using a phased approach, we renovated Walt & Whitman Brewing in the former Saratogian building. First was the restaurant and Whitman Taproom on the ground floor and the Walt Café on the second level. The Whitman Beer Hall was planned to be the second phase, but due to the pandemic was pushed back in favor of creating a patio for outdoor dining. Instead, the beer hall became the third and final phase, marking the end of a 3-year renovation process.

Located on the second floor next to the Walt Café, the 3,178 SF space is now a 10-beer brew hall with long tables for seating and a full-service bar. The Whitman Beer Hall also has its own kitchen with a walk-in freezer, cooler storage room, and pizza oven, a new stairwell connecting it to the Whitman Taproom below, storage for the brewery’s product distribution, and a new front landing for its own entrance on the corner of Lake Ave. and Maple Ave.

Maintaining the building’s history and charm was important for the design of the space. The beer hall retains the rest of the building’s industrial aesthetic with wood and metal elements featured throughout, including the large wooden beams that are original to the building, exposed ductwork, and the metal staircase crafted by Bonacio Steel.