MBM - Lonza Building
PROJECT MISSION Three
real estate developers, each a former CFA client, formed a partnership
to build a speculative office building that would attract “Grade A”
corporate tenants.
CLIENT GOALS
They
wanted CFA to design a dramatic atrium lobby and adjust the initial
rustic architectural finish specifications to more luxurious materials that would create
an elegant interior ambience.
CONSTRAINTS
During
construction a new traffic light required by the town at the owner’s
expense resulted in major site work modifications. The money required
for this reconstruction drastically reduced the budget for the
interiors.
DESIGN APPROACH
The original materials of brick and oak were changed to burgundy veined marble, polished stainless steel and glass. The
staircase was revised to have a floating effect. The atrium houses
huge, unique marble planters filled with flowers, plants and 23 foot
high trees. Exposed beams between the floors, originally specified as
black iron, were to be covered with polished stainless steel. To save
money, the polished steel specification was changed to unbreakable
mirror. The mirrored beams reflect the foliage filling the lobby from
top to bottom with a warm dramatic landscape.