www.marej.com M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal — The Best of 2019 — March 27 - April 9, 2020 — 41C The B EST INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE of 2019 DesignPoint, Inc. Juniper Village at Bucks County Bensalem, PA DMR Architects SB One Banking Center Weehawken, NJ Gacek Design Group Ria Mar Bar & Restaurant South River, New Jersey
Type of project: Hospitality - Commercial Bar & Restaurant Size: 3,500 SF The restaurant has a huge following of those who enjoy an authentic Portuguese experience. The objective of the inte- rior design renovation was to elevate the space, expand the audience, and generate fine dining with a warm and casual atmosphere. The bar was transformed from an industrial style pub to a classic, more upscale bar. Inspired by the interior of a boat, we used millwork to extend over the dining area and con- nect it to the bar. Keeping with the integrity of a Portuguese fishing pier, a dramatic ceiling design with suspended, acoustical panels controls sound. The panels were installed with convex and concave shapes to look like waves. You immediately notice blue penny tile, similar to the color of the sea, creating a strong pedestal to anchor the bar. Why was this particular job your favorite/most unusual? This project was designed to upgrade the bar area aesthetic in order to keep the existing customers comfortable while elevating the design to appeal to a new target audience of fine dining foodies. It was such an exciting opportunity and so rewarding to see the impact of our interior design and how the design transformed the space, generated new traf- fic, as well as sales for our client.
Type of project: Senior Living Community Renovation Size: 43,700 SF This project transformed underutilized and outdated spaces to create experiential designs that nurture the spirit of life. In conjunction with the community’s comprehensive program- ming, the new spaces help residents grow and thrive. The new design reflects a hospitality model, with impressive features including a grand lobby with arching wood trusses and win- dows overlooking the new landscaped roof deck, complete with outdoor dining, timber shade structures, and a turf activ- ity lawn. Interior improvements introduced hospitality ameni- ties with inviting social spaces, a multi-purpose theater, and a spa-like wellness center with fitness rooms and an indoor pool. Why was this particular job your favorite/most unusual? Three new dining venues, in addition to the reinvention of two existing venues, offer unique experiences and a variety of choice. Perhaps most notable among the new destinations is the Thirty-Two Club. Strategically located in a remote and notoriously vacant section of the 14-building campus, this new restaurant, now host to a popular cabaret series, brings activity and vibrancy to a once lackluster interior. Resident rooms were eliminated and the floor broken through to cre - ate a multistory dining venue open to the outside community.
Type of project: Interior fit-out Following the bank’s rebranding in 2018, SB One Bank (formerly Sussex Bank) hired DMR to design their new banking center at The Avenue Collection luxury condomin- ium complex at Port Imperial in Weehawken, NJ. A key design feature of the project includes half-moon booths in high end finishes to provide a luxury retail experience in a private and comfortable environment. DMR’s layout lo - cated the conference room so that meeting participants can enjoy a view of the waterfront and NYC skyline. Why was this particular job your favorite/most unusual? This project was a favorite of the staff this year because it allowed our designers to creatively design a physical mani- festation of a client’s mission. SB One’s mission to pro- vide a more personal banking experience was physically portrayed through private, intimate spaces that inspire col- laboration between employees and customers without sepa- ration by counters, desks and glass windows seen in more traditional banking layouts.
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