Refuge Coffee’s Clarkston location was reimagined through a 10-week pro-bono design initiative led by Lord Aeck Sargent, with the goal of transforming an existing café into a fully functional, welcoming coffee shop that reflects the spirit and diversity of the surrounding community.
Working closely with Refuge Coffee and mindful of Clarkston’s reputation as one of the most diverse cities in America, our intern team collaborated across time zones to design a space that fosters belonging, inclusion, and opportunity. Through weekly client meetings, we developed a proposal that responded to both operational needs and cultural context—balancing efficiency with warmth, visibility with comfort.
The project culminated in an in-person presentation at LAS’s Atlanta office, where our team of interns from across the country came together to share our vision: a space that not only serves great coffee but also strengthens community, supports Refuge Coffee’s mission, and welcomes all who walk through its doors.
