Bisected by the I-15 freeway and situated just 12 miles north of the Nevada / California border, Jean serves as a hub for millions of automotive travelers each year. One of the few stops between Las Vegas and Southern California, the primary goal for this Starbucks was to create a comfortable and inviting oasis in the desert.    

RWA was tasked with transforming a decades-old convenience store into an elevated indoor/outdoor café compatible with the surrounding desert landscape. Working closely with the Starbucks corporate design team, RWA applied the brand standards to create a unique destination-inspired design. The overall concept centered on bringing the ‘outside to the inside’ while mitigating the harsh environmental conditions.

To achieve this, the design carries robust concrete masonry wall cladding through to the interior which is paired with concrete-inspired tile, along with wood and steel accents that reference the architectural palette. A large, protected courtyard visible through a full-height glazed wall, further connects the indoor and outdoor spaces. Enclosed by low-height breeze block walls, and an angled, slatted metal roof canopy, the courtyard is home to sculptural art pieces in the form of desert cacti.