BLAIR REMY ARCHITECTS

THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF SCALE, HISTORY AND SUSTAINABILITY PROVIDED THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS INTERIOR RENOVATION OF OLD INDUSTRIAL SPACE INTO TOP-RATE OFFICE SPACE FOR OUR ARCHITECTURAL FIRM. UPON ITS COMPLETION, THE SPACE ACHIEVED LEED CERTIFICATION FOR COMMERCIAL INTERIORS RECEIVING INNOVATION CREDITS FOR BUILDING REUSE, ENERGY REDUCTION (LED AND FLUORESCENT LIGHTING), AND FURNISHINGS REUSE.

WITH TWO OFFICES AND A CONFERENCE ROOM, THE REMAINING SPACE IS DESIGNED AS AN OPEN, STUDIO TYPE PLAN ENABLING THE DESIGN TEAM TO WORK AS ONE COHESIVE UNIT. OVERSIZED FURNISHINGS SUCH AS 6’X6′ DESKS AND INDUSTRIAL-GRADE CEILING FANS IMPLY GRAND SCALE. THE 42″ TALL CENTER ISLAND CUSTOM DESIGNED AROUND THREE OF THE FOUR EXISTING LARGE COLUMN CAPITALS FOR STORAGE VISUALLY DIVIDES THE SPACE INTO TWO LARGE AREAS, WHILE STILL ALLOWING DAYLIGHT TO PENETRATE ALL OCCUPIED SPACE.

THE SPACE ITSELF IS LOCATED IN A CORNER OF THE BUILDING AND BOASTS LARGE ARCHED WINDOWS ON TWO WALLS. THE ARCHES ARE MIMICKED AT THE GLASS OFFICE DOORS, WHICH ALSO MIRROR THE DESIGN OF THE WINDOW PANES. THE DEPTH OF THE ARCHED OPENINGS ON THE WINDOWS WAS INCREASED TO ALLOW FOR THE INSTALLATION OF SHADING DEVICES TO MINIMIZE THE INTENSITY OF THE SUNLIGHT. EXISTING DEFORMITIES ON THE COLUMNS, CONCRETE CEILING AND FLOOR WERE MAINTAINED AND THE MECHANICAL DUCTWORK AND ELECTRICAL CONDUITS WERE LEFT EXPOSED TO EMPHASIZE THE HISTORICAL INDUSTRIAL ASPECTS OF THE SPACE.

AN 8’6″ CAST STONE DIVIDER WAS BUILT AS THE ENTRANCE AND PROVIDES SHELVING TO HOUSE THE FIRM’S DESIGN AWARDS AND ACCOLADES, AS WELL VISUAL PRIVACY TO THE WORK AND BREAK AREAS, GENTLY GUIDING VISITORS TO THE LOUNGE AREA.

THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN CENTERED ON REUSING EXISTING MATERIALS AND MINIMIZING NEW CONSTRUCTION. ENERGY-USE REDUCTION WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND WAS INCORPORATED EARLY IN THE DESIGN PROCESS IN ORDER TO YIELD LIGHTING AND HVAC DESIGNS THAT ARE ENERGY-EFFICIENT, FUNCTIONAL TO THE NEEDS OF THE USER, AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE BEAUTY OF THE SPACE.