The Swamp Restaurant
Gainesville, florida
Our challenge was to rebuild the infamous Swamp Restaurant in a new location, but matching exactly the size, shape, and look of the original that was such a Gainesville staple. The Swamp Restaurant, a beloved icon in Gainesville, Florida, was being rebuilt at a new location and needed to replicate the exact size, shape, and appearance of the original. Our team designed a customized HVAC system using advanced variable refrigerant systems, without adding lowered ceilings, extensive soffits, mechanical rooms, or other typical features of new restaurants. This minimized the installation footprint, allowing all units to be placed in the attic and other storage spaces, keeping them out of sight.
For the lighting design, we used old photographs and street view archives of the original Swamp to create updated LED fixtures that closely matched the originals. These fixtures were paired with modern dimming controls to recreate the charm and ambiance of the old space. Externally, the building looks almost identical to the original, but the systems and engineering of the new Swamp are much more advanced and nearly invisible to customers.
