Car Corner is a 19,169-square-foot mixed-use development in Jackson, Wyoming, designed to integrate residential units, automotive retail, vehicle service facilities, and below-grade storage within a cohesive architectural framework. The project responds to a complex program by carefully separating residential and commercial functions while creating a unified building that contributes to Jackson’s evolving urban fabric.

The building is organized to provide convenient customer access to the automotive retail and service spaces at street level, while residential units are positioned on the second floor to take advantage of natural light and views toward the surrounding buttes. A full-height basement provides substantial storage for tires, automotive parts, and equipment, supported by a freight elevator that allows materials to move efficiently between levels.

Integrating residential units directly above an active automotive service facility required specialized environmental and mechanical systems. Custom-engineered, self-contained receptacles safely manage used motor oil and glycol, while dedicated carbon monoxide filtration and exhaust systems help maintain healthy indoor air quality. The building further incorporates an EPA-approved boiler system that utilizes used motor oil recovered during vehicle servicing, transforming a waste product into a functional energy resource and reducing the building’s reliance on conventional fuels.

Architecturally, Car Corner is expressed as a strong horizontal form articulated by substantial log columns and a regional material palette of cedar and farmer stone. These materials connect the development to the architectural character of Jackson Hole while giving the large mixed-use building a more human scale. A prominent butterfly roof, supported by structural columns, creates a distinctive contemporary profile and opens interior spaces toward opposing views of the surrounding buttes.

The butterfly roof also plays an important role in the project’s stormwater management strategy, directing rainwater to a cistern that collects and meters runoff into an overflow storm drain. This integration of architectural form and environmental performance reflects a practical approach to sustainable commercial and mixed-use design.

Located within walking distance of residential neighborhoods, community green space, and a transportation hub, Car Corner supports Jackson’s “Town as Heart” urban design philosophy by bringing housing, employment, commercial services, and transportation into closer proximity. The project demonstrates Ward Blake Architects’ expertise in mixed-use and commercial architecture, successfully combining a demanding program, specialized automotive systems, residential living, regional materials, and environmentally responsive design within a single integrated development.

Location

Jackson, Wyoming

Project Size

19,169 sq. ft.