Contract Magazine - January 2020 - 89

"My version of historic preservation is: If something is historically significant,
is a gift back to people that creates positive emotions, and marks a point in time, keep it
as much as you possibly can and restore it."
-Lauren Rottet, founding principal and president, Rottet Studio
The legendary New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) might at first conjure up
Modern-luxe seating and tables furnish many of the meeting and lounge
images of yesteryear's traders shouting across a floor covered in ticker tape.
spaces, a move to inject more hospitality and rid the NYSE of old-fashioned decor.
But today's technologies have enabled them to conveniently buy and sell in real
"Firms are courting people to come do their IPOs there, and people come for big
time electronically. While the trading floor has caught up with modern times, other
corporate meetings or talks about mergers. Maybe they don't want to meet in their
parts of the landmarked NYSE building on Wall Street have remained stagnant,
offices and instead meet on neutral ground. So this acts like a hospitality suite
whether in infrastructure or design. Among them are the sixth and seventh floors,
one can rent," says Rottet. "The NYSE is the economic center of the universe,
which encompass a whopping 45,000 square feet of outdated executive and
and what happens in the space on a daily basis is a monitor for what's happening
meeting spaces. Working in collaboration with STUDIOS Architecture, Rottet
in the world. It's important to the nation's economy." Thanks to Rottet Studio's
Studio refreshed these floors while preserving and restoring their significant
successful balance of restoring historic beauty and bringing the floors into the 21st
early-1900s elements.
century, the NYSE's revamped sixth and seventh floors are finally befitting such
"My version of historic preservation is: If something is historically significant,
important matters. -SHEILA KIM
is a gift back to people that creates positive emotions, and marks a point in time,
P RO J E C T C R E DI TS
keep it as much as you possibly can and restore it," says Lauren Rottet, the design
Special inspection Emtec Engineers
Architect STUDIOS Architecture
firm's founding principal and president. Adhering to this philosophy, her team
Branding Landor Associates
STUDIOS Architecture project team
investigated archives to learn what was original to the plan. Most prominently,
Audiovisual designer TAD Associates
a grand boardroom on the sixth floor, subdivided into three zones, boasted original Tom Krizmanic, AIA, principal; Kurt Wayne, Acoustics consultant Cerami &
associate principal; LoriAnn Maas, IIDA,
features such as ornate painted molding, bowl light pendants, and a soaring ceiling
Associates
CID, LEED AP, associate principal, project
of laylights. Unfortunately, the latter had been covered up at some point in time,
designer; Sarah Poist, AIA, associate, project S E L E C T E D S OU RC E S
so the project team exposed the feature, replacing some of the glass to match the
architect; Morielle Hoffman, designer
original, and backlit it for maximum effect. It was imperative to provide TV screens
Seating Wilkhahn, Rottet Collection, Lily
Interior designer Rottet Studio
for the meetings and presentations taking place in this boardroom, but mounted
Jack, Avenue Road, Richardson Seating,
units would stand out and lessen the room's turn-of-the-century character. Instead, Rottet Studio project team Lauren
Longhi
Rottet, FAIA, FIDA, NCARB, design
Rottet Studio's elegant solution was to commission custom curved LED displays
Tables and case goods DatesWeiser,
principal; David Davis, AIA, IIDA, NCARB,
and nestle them within three monumental arches along one wall.
Chai Ming Studios, Bernhardt Hospitality,
managing principal; Ana Maria Nater,
On the seventh floor, the designers restored an existing bar as well
Dune, Rottet Collection, Holly Hunt, The
designer; Lori Firpo, project manager;
as its 1930s painting commemorating the signing of the Buttonwood Agreement
Bright Group, Moore+Friesl
Melody Faircloth, executive assistant to
(which led to the NYSE's formation). They refurbished the back bar and added
Lighting EOS Light Panel, Rambusch
Lauren Rottet
furnishings that appear original to the space such as tufted-leather banquettes.
Lighting Co., Preciosa Lighting, Circa
Project and cost manager Gardiner &
Nearby, a lofty gallery-like pre-function hall retains character through restored
Lighting, Crenshaw, Studio Van den
Theobald Inc.
wainscoting, molding, massive columns, and a coffered ceiling, but seamlessly
Akker, Henge
Contractor Benchmark Builders Inc.
integrates updated downlighting, acoustical materials, and mirror-backed
Paint Benjamin Moore
Code consultant/expediter Milrose
fluted-glass walls.
Ceilings BASWA (acoustical), Novo Arts
The project was not devoid of major interventions, however. The design team Consultants
(custom sculpture)
Lighting SBLD Studio
demolished a seldom-used kitchen, for example, to make way for a new staircase
Carpet TSAR
connecting the sixth and seventh floors. Here, a palette of leather and wood panels, Structural engineering Severud
Wood floors Junckers Hardwood
Associates Consulting Engineers
bronze, and marble stair treads mingles with recessed handrails accentuated by
Walls Optima Leathers, Knoll, Nathan
MEP/FP engineer Jaros, Baum & Bolles Allan Glass Studios, Spinneybeck
cove lighting to imbue a sleek modern-yet-timeless aesthetic. Various conference
Environmental consultant Cardno ATC Screens DetaiLED Solutions
rooms sport more contemporary light fixtures tempered by original trim and crown
Kitchen H. Weiss
or picture molding. A dramatic ceiling installation of blue ribbons, conceived
Stone Biordi Inc. (treads)
Security contractor Trillium
by STUDIOS Architecture, hovers above one of the meeting rooms and is mirrored
Technologies Limited
in blue LED panels mounted within the new stairwell.
contract
Contract Magazine - January 2020

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