Lobby Project

At nearly 40 years of age, and performing services never intended, it was not so much a choice as a need to renovate the Lobby. What and how has been a challenge approached many times. Each attempt to address concerns was based around maintaining and improving. These measures have been beneficial, but invariably never succeeded fully. Some systems were or are no longer cost efficient to maintain, and considerable changes and replacements were/are due, in many areas. This is true of the nerve center of the building, as well as the property as a whole.

And also at this time there is a swell that's about to crest, involving energy and environmental scrutiny. Cost effective attention to the preservation of our resources, the money it costs us to utilize those resources, and how each of our actions compound upon the environment. It's been years being discussed, and many are forward thinking and active in this area. We can expect that every one of us will be called to thoughtfully participate a great deal more (technology is just now at a point where we will more easily be able to quantify our consumption).

The push is on. Our lobby renovation wasn't part of a building-wide concept to prepare for the next 40 years, but the timing is right to look at the project, and our home, in this manner. More on this in 2011.

In the meanwhile, at 111 East 85th Street, thus we begin.

- BT

Tue 11/30

Just off the Four Corners, Elevator Hallway
Tue 11/30

Just off the Four Corners, Elevator Hallway
Tue. 11/30

The Four Corners of Our World:
From the North West corner (fr. pkg. room door)
Tue. 11/30

The Four Corners of Our World:
From the North West corner (desk / mail sort area)
Tue 11/30

The Four Corners of Our World:
From the South East corner (couch area)
Tue 11/30

The Four Corners of Our World:
From the North East corner (elevator hall entrance)
Tue. 11/30

The Four Corners of Our World:
From the South West corner (front door)
The initial concept's floor plan.
This Initial Concept board has evolved since its presentation in May 2010. Over a year in the making, and 6 more months to refine.

The displayed furniture was changed. The chandeliers depicted were not selected. There is a sandblasted glass panel that will hide the package room entrance, among many other nuanced modifications. But the base concept and spaciousness remains.

Click on any image to enlarge it, and click again to return to this display (or choose the Slideshow option, and hit ESC to return when done).
Isolated Rendering

The Four Corners of Our World:
From the South West corner (front door)
End of Week One (Sat. 11/13)

The Four Corners of Our World:
From the North West corner (desk / mail sort area)
End of Week One (Sat. 11/13)

The Four Corners of Our World:
From the South East corner (couch area)
End of Week One (Sat. 11/13)

The Four Corners of Our World:
From the North East corner (elevator hall entrance)
End of Week One (Sat. 11/13)

The Four Corners of Our World:
From the South West corner (front door)
Sat. 12/11

Just off the Four Corners, Elevator Hallway
Sat. 12/11

Just off the Four Corners, Elevator Hallway
Sat. 12/11

The Four Corners of Our World:
From the North West corner (fr. pkg. room door)
Sat. 12/11

The Four Corners of Our World:
From the South East corner (couch area)
Sat. 12/11

The Four Corners of Our World:
From the North East corner (elevator hall entrance)
Sat. 12/11

The Four Corners of Our World:
From the South West corner (front door)

Eureka! We have ceiling!
End of Week One (Sat. 11/13)

Just off the Four Corners, all that yet remains of the elevator hallway.
Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

After preparing and protecting Monday and Tuesday, the demolition takes off in earnest.
Lobby renovation 111 E 85 week One Nov 12 2010 009
Credit: Gerry Solomon (111e85.17G)

We now pause for a brief intermission.

Gerry Solomon has provided a few contributions to this photo 'blog', with some depictions of what are times now past.

There was a brief delay in the planned progress of the project - once fully demo'd, there were a few things discovered that required slight modifications to the plan dimensions (but it took a few days to get the domino effects sorted out). Not a big surprise.

We wait that out through this intermission.
Lobby renovation 111 E 85 Nov. 12th 2010
Credit: Gerry Solomon (111e85.17G)
Lobby renovation 111 E 85 Nov. 12th 2010
Credit: Gerry Solomon (111e85.17G)
Lobby renovation 111 E 85 Nov. 12th 2010
Credit: Gerry Solomon (111e85.17G)

My personal favorite. -bt
Lobby renovation 111 E 85 last day Nov. 7th
Credit: Gerry Solomon (111e85.17G)
Lobby renovation 111 E 85 last day Nov. 7th
Credit: Gerry Solomon (111e85.17G)
Lobby renovation 111 E 85 last day Nov. 7th
Credit: Gerry Solomon (111e85.17G)
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