Schaum Architects Insert Wooden Boxes in Electrolit’s Houston HQ

Schaum Architects, with Houston architect Jesús Vassallo and Guadalajara-based Luis Aldrete, transformed a 1930s Spanish Revival building on Buffalo Bayou into the headquarters for Mexican beverage brand Electrolit. The project began in January 2023 by stripping back a 2020 renovation that had left the space raw. The team inserted 20-by-20-foot boxes made of knotty alder to create flexible zones for meetings, lounges, and workstations within the nearly 700-square-metre hub. Materials like fire-rated glass block, plaster, custom millwork, and Sikafloor DecoDur flooring avoid typical corporate finishes, evoking a Mexican house atmosphere. Mexican interior designers Aagnes sourced furnishings from Guadalajara craftspeople. Employees now gravitate toward lounge and kitchen areas for collaboration, shifting from traditional open-plan productivity.