6B — December 26, 2014 - January 15, 2015 — Owners, Developers & Managers — M id A tlantic
Real Estate Journal
www.marejournal.com
ODM E xperts Poskanzer Skott Architects helps clients appeal to a new generation Lobbies hold the key to modern branding at office properties
R IDGEWOOD, NJ — When it comes to of- fice buildings, the old
actively purchasing assets and subsequently working to reposition and stabilize them. In this highly competitive market, properties must ap- peal to current preferences from the outset. In that sense, the lobby has become a critical marketing tool. Do these “modern” lobbies have common elements? Today’s corporate space users and their millennial- generation employees want bright, inviting and acces- sible environments, and it is essential to incorporate these attributes into the lobby. The
– and they are setting the tone with their lobbies. In fact, Poskanzer Skott Architects (PSA) in Ridgewood is see- ing stepped-up inquiries and activity involving design and renovation projects. In the fol- lowing interview, Poskanzer discusses the importance of entryways as a focal point for property branding. What are you observing in terms of momentum? The market has turned around. Companies and multi- tenant landlords are again committing to capital projects, while value-add investors are
finishes and furniture in this public area make a powerful statement about what can be found behind the curtain, so to speak. Multi-tenant environ- ments often have a concierge desk with security and build- ing services that is, in essence, the welcome point for the property. For a single-tenant building, the lobby speaks volumes about the company that occupies it. Can you provide an exam- ple of a statement-making single-tenant lobby design? PSA served as architect and master planner for Mediacom
Communications Corpora- tion’s new corporate head- quarters in Blooming Grove, New York. We worked closely with the owner of the country’s 8th largest cable television company to create a state-of- the-art facility that reflected the high-tech operating nature of the business. At the same time, the 110,000 s/f building sits on 200 acres of farmland with expansive hilltop views. Mediacom’s soaring three- story lobby makes a definitive statement about the unique work environment the compa- ny’s leadership has created for its employees. Striking design elements include a sweeping stainless steel and glass stair- case and a serpentine glass wall that maximizes the loca- tion’s abundant natural light and dramatic views. Neutral finishes are punctuated with bright splashes of color in the furniture and accents. The lobby’s light-filled, spacious and open feel projects the aesthetic that visitors will find throughout the building. How can a lobby update help an older, multi-tenant building gain competitive advantage? Our firm is highly active in New Jersey, a market where a significant amount of office product dates back three (or more) decades. At these older properties, well-executed com- mon area restorations that bring in contemporary mate- rials, updated colors and new lighting can change the entire feel. Princeton North Plaza, a 65,000 s/f, multi-tenant of- fice building in Plainsboro, New Jersey, illustrates this trend. The ownership recently retained PSA to redesign the property’s 2,500 s/f lobby. This mid-1980s building has great bones, but the finishes and materials were dated. The two-story entry has a trian- gular shape and a connecting staircase. The odd angles add character to the space but also presented a design challenge. We concentrated on creat- ing a sense of cohesiveness, incorporating newwood-plank ceramic tile and keeping some of the original Carrera marble flooring at the elevator bases and as accents throughout the space. Upgraded light fixtures and elements such as carpet tiles and paint in whites and browns create a clean, crisp effect, while brick finishes mir- continued on page 7B
adage about first impres- sions holds true, accord- ing to Barry Poskanzer, AIA . As a new genera- tion of space users seeks
Barry Poskanzer
accommodations, owner-occu- piers and landlords are work- ing to make their properties modern and inviting in order to win employees and tenants
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