ACC Construction has completed the build-out of a significant corporate office space at 810 Seventh Avenue, a Class A building owned and managed by SL Green.
SL Green and the tenant, Raine Group, retained LB Architects to design the 18,000 s/f space, and LB hit the right design notes in their dramatic, modern and very functional office design.
Raine Group is an unusual merchant bank in that they are focused on entertainment, digital media and sports; given their market position, they wanted an office that is high style and polished, yet with a hint of unpredictability.
“In preparation for the Raine Group’s full floor occupancy at 810 7th Avenue, we tailored a design and construction team that was capable of integrating the core architectural features of the recent lobby redevelopment into the design of the new tenant space, while still providing a wholly unique workspace consistent with the reputation and image of Raine’s boutique banking services,” said Edward Piccinich, senior vice president of SL Green.
“The end product delivered to the tenant benefited from both Lofreddo Brooks as architect and ACC Construction as contractor, who worked with great precision and efficiency alongside SL Green’s construction and property management team to bring this project to completion within a dozen weeks,” he added.
Piccinich underscored the close integration of the owners, tenant, architect and construction firm, all of whom collaborated closely.
The focal point of the office, visible as soon as you step off the elevator, is a large, centrally located glass conference room creating a strong axis through the reception area. Associates and analysts, who work long hours, sit in open work stations on either side of the conference room with large-screen televisions around them, and the east and west ends of the space have been left open to long views of the city so there is a strong sense of motion, light and air throughout.
Brandon Gardner, one of the principals at Raine, explained that he has been active in the design process for several of his own offices in the recent past, so he had an acute sense of priorities for this one. Raine Group is neither a traditional investment bank nor an entertainment company; they wanted to convey the message that they are a modern, edgy firm with a “digital look,” but staying very professional.
“It was definitely important to keep the offices open; we wanted everyone communicating,” Gardner said. “I am very happy with many elements of our office, including the conference room, the openness and the flexibility; every area is wired so that if we need to expand we can do so easily.”
Matt Rowe from LB described Gardner’s mandate for the conference room by saying he asked for space “as open as possible, as central as possible and as big as possible.”
Rowe said they also discussed the importance of a “wow factor” for clients and other visitors upon arrival; keeping the white stone and dark wood theme of the building’s lobby allowed for both continuity and drama.
The construction team was challenged by the schedule, which was originally a tight 12 weeks; ACC Construction completed the project in even less time. SL Green, Raine, and the tenant’s project management firm, TKO Project Management, were pleased with both the process and the result.
Michele Medaglia, president and CEO of ACC said, “The entire team’s collaborative approach made this project so successful. Everyone was focused on the goal and the subcontractors especially went above and beyond to produce a high-level, quality project in a very short time frame.”
