Looking to elevate your Upstate New York experience? Saratoga Springs has a new brew-worthy destination at Tree House Brewing Company. Starting from a humble shed in Monson, MA, Tree House has grown into a world-class lifestyle brand renowned for making inspired libations. In pursuit of creating a sought-after landmark to match their craft-brewing mastery in this legendary summer destination, they enlisted our design team once again for our first complete ground-up collaboration—defining every aspect of what Tree House in Saratoga Springs should feel like, from site planning and architectural expression to the flow, drinking and eating experience, and the fine details that bring it all together.
Situated across from Saratoga Spa State Park and geographically positioned between the Adirondacks, Catskills, Green Mountains, and Berkshires, this Outpost celebrates its role as a gateway to natural beauty. Visitors are welcomed by a modern agrarian structure that balances traditional forms with innovative materials true to the Tree House brand identity. The experience begins in the retail area brimming with camping nostalgia—binoculars, tackle boxes, compasses, and walkie-talkies—before making your way to the taproom where large gabled curtainwalls and skylights bathe the space in natural light.
An immersive brand journey unfolds through thoughtful details that harken back to memories of a great camping trip. A custom 12-ft wide topographic map spanning 200 miles anchors the bar alongside 40 beer taps, including 8 Lukr side-pull faucets showcasing Tree House's vibrant lager program. Four sugar maple trees with real trunks, indigenous field grasses, and ivy root the 534-seat interior in its natural context. The commanding 8-ft diameter 360-degree fireplace with its 12-ft hearth of native Saratoga granite creates a year-round gathering centerpiece. Indigenous hardwoods from down the road, Coleman lanterns, Pendleton-inspired fabrics, tent wallcovering, peeled pine log back bar, and custom climbing rope details transport visitors to an outdoor adventure. Paying homage to the beer that changed the world of craft beer, you can find Julius orange "easter eggs" woven throughout—from the fabric stitching to Adirondack chair frames, to the back bar rope, to millwork casters—used to delight and inspire visitors.
The sprawling 11-acre campus extends the experience outdoors with a wraparound covered patio, football field-sized lawn, and two regulation bocce courts. Sustainability strategies touch all parts of the campus including natural grasses, wildflowers, pervious landscaping and paving, and EV chargers. Navigating an ambitious 9-month construction timeline and rigorous Gateway District approvals, the project became exactly what Tree House envisioned: a must-visit destination and a true testament to what our design collaboration can deliver for the hundreds of thousands who flock to Saratoga Springs every summer.