Ex Novo Brewing

Thoughtful preservation for a new era

Ex Novo Brewing Company, a Portland-based brewery, approached SEA to help them expand their footprint in a thoughtful way. They wanted to bring their brand and their beer to an underserved market while also making a positive impact. Ex Novo found their second location in the heart of Old Town Beaverton in the historic Cady Building, right in the city’s emerging “restaurant row.” SEA’s design uses thoughtful historic preservation and customized interiors to breathe new life into the building and deliver a brewpub experience that allows patrons to step back in time.

Client
Ex Novo Brewing

Location
Beaverton, OR

Size
2,300 sf

Year
2019

Exterior of brewery with biker passing by

The Cady Building was built in 1914 and is one of the oldest buildings in Beaverton. It is a 2-story brick building that was originally the City’s general store and post office. It has seen several iterations over time, including as a bank, a grocery store, and a tavern. SEA understood that a primary project goal was to preserve the historic integrity of the building while giving it a fresh retail presence in Oldtown Beaverton.

On the initial site visit, the project team discovered an original brick wall hidden behind a plaster and lath wall. The plaster and lath were removed to express the original natural brick that now serves as the backdrop of the bar and a focal point for the entire space.

People sitting at bar talking to bartender and each other. Large menu on brick wall and vintage style lighting

Beer refrigerator that says Cold Beer To Go

SEA selected bold gray wood paneling wraps for the walls and ceiling of the dining room, defining the space with a textural feel. Reclaimed hardwood flooring and hex tiling are used as a nod to the building’s original era, and the custom booths are designed by SEA to mirror the arch top windows and connect the modern interior to the historic exterior. During demolition, the contractor discovered newspapers from 1940 hidden in a built-in bench and these are now framed and displayed in the restrooms.

People sitting at custom booth seating. — The wooden tobacco-brown beer menu departs from the ubiquitous chalkboard menu and instead uses magnetized removable beer signs to keep the menu fresh and interactive.

Successfully preserving and expressing the elements that were built in 1914 was important to our client and to us not just for the aesthetic qualities, but in terms of sustainability as well. We worked closely with the City of Beaverton and local community organizations to streamline the project’s historic design review process and keep the design true to the Cady Building’s original era. Today, in part because Ex Novo paved the way, “restaurant row” is bustling with several more restaurants.