Carbondale Clay Center, a non-profit community arts center located 40 miles from Aspen, Colorado, has been serving the community for over 25 years. CCC offers clay classes for adults, children, and families; outreach programs with local organizations; ceramic studio space rentals for artists; and long-term residency opportunities. Their gallery features curated exhibitions of regional and national artists, exposing the community to diverse ceramic art forms and providing artists with a venue to sell their work.

In collaboration with the Carbondale Clay Center staff and board, CCY is excited to design a vibrant concept for an expanded new facility in order to meet the community’s growing demand for and interest in ceramic arts.

Remaining at its existing historic site on the east end of Main Street in Carbondale, Colorado, the new proposed building will increase the Clay Center’s current constrained footprint creating room for a larger flexible classroom and maker space, additional community studio rentals, storage, event spaces, and a community meeting room.

Extending to the north end of the property, the facility will engage Rio Grande Trail-goers with a kiln yard, pocket park, and flexible outdoor event space. A rooftop deck, overlooking Main Street and the surrounding valley, will offer surrounding town views, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the region's natural beauty.

From Main Street, large windows will welcome passers-by to connect with the gallery, gift shop, and creative workspaces. The building’s signature feature is a saw-toothed clerestory roof. The south facing side will offer opportunities for solar with north facing glazing to provide uniform, natural daylight to both the second story artist studios as well as the classrooms on the ground floor. Large, glazed garage doors and double-height volume of the classrooms promote an expansive, open feeling and connection to the outdoors.