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. Substitutions did not impact the design. All was done within the new reduced budget. The building now features the name Lonza, a Swiss chemical and biotechnology company.

• Location:

  Fairlawn, NJ