Renovation of the 1900 Duke Street lobby was undertaken to improve the profile and rentability of a building that had not been updated since it opened in the 1990s. The challenge at this address was to lighten up a dark space that gets no direct sunlight and was further compressed by coffered ceilings.
Tenants occupy both sides of the lobby, so within the given shape, KGD used pear wood to produce a warm glow with waterfall paneling at the guard desk and on the walls, a brightly lit ceiling without coffering, and a floor-to-ceiling glass entry wall. Upgraded elevator cabs, doors, guard desk, vestibule, exterior canopy, and simple stone floors without ornamentation help the space achieve a new elegance. To contend with existing infrastructure, a bulkhead conceals mechanical elements and fits within the language of the space. Although LEED certification was not a part of this design process, materials utilized include such natural materials as stone and wood in addition to GWB and steel/glass.