505 Park Avenue New York, New York

As part of a major $8-million renovation of this 21-story building (186,674 square feet) which involved new windows, façade repair, and elevator upgrade, a new lobby was also created. The existing lobby was a dreary one-story tiled interior with the character of a subway station. The client wanted a new, modern, slick image to attract new tenants. A two-story space maximizing the entrance impact was created. The use of polished brass, tinted glass, and Spanish marble heightened the entrance experience. Lighting was extremely important. Custom wall sconces were designed to provide both glitter and an emphasis to enhance the vertical scale of the space. While the whole construction effort appears as sleek as a Swiss watch, the entire assembly was remarkably economical. After ten years, people still walk into the building to photograph and admire the lobby.