Our design team was challenged to design an oasis that would attract office-workers to embrace 512 West 22nd Street’s unique location overlooking the Chelsea, Manhattan waterfront and The High Line. The interior vision was married with the building’s unique exterior and raw interior architecture, heavily drawing on its rounded corners. Exposed large bell-shaped concrete columns – a holdover from the structure’s warehouse origins – is a notable element the team celebrated.
First an early 20th century warehouse, and a parking garage decades later, the adaptively re-used office building retained these bell-shaped (or ‘mushroom-capped’) columns apparent in many industrial buildings originally built in that era. The columns were replicated on the newer upper floors where this project is located and acted as a key design component when creating its interiors.
Up-lighting was provided against the uniquely shaped columns, and their adjacent ceilings were painted white to draw focus to them. In addition, the space was carefully designed to keep its ceiling height as high as possible to let in tremendous amounts of daylight.
The space is refreshingly furnished with a Mid-century modern design palette of yellow, blue, red, and rustic hues paired with dark and light woods. In addition to stationary work areas and enclosed conference rooms at the perimeter, large floorplates lend themselves to open workspaces punctuated by varying amenity and lounge areas that promote communal work.
Further drawing on the building’s round edges and sinuous ribbon windows, curved interior partitions were created, while drapery was used instead of solar shades to create softness for a more residential flair. In addition to enclosed conference rooms at the perimeter, the design team placed large, open pantry areas and soft seating groups adjacent to the windows to democratize daylight access and city views, including the High Line directly aside the property.
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