As a growing company providing solutions for pharmaceutical trials, Medavante—ProPhase recognized the need for a larger workplace that would better represent its brand and improve employee satisfaction. The company opted for the upper floor of the historic building they already occupied, expanding their workspace from 20,000 square feet into a 38,000-square-foot space. This new office spacefeatured exposed brick, and access to natural light through perimeter windows and overhead clerestory light monitors.
The approach to the design incorporates adaptive reuse principles, making use of the building’s strengths while emphasizing its original character as a former industrial design studio for American Standard Plumbing. After a programming study analyzing the client group’s work flow and organizational structure, the design team produced a layout consolidating teams into individual zones around a ‘town square’ zone, with a kitchenette and collaborative space with lounge seating for all-hands meetings.
Within the double-height open office space, the architects inserted a mezzanine structure with the look of a shipping container, composed of acrylic-coated corrugated aluminum walls. Beneath the mezzanine is quiet office space and above is a "rooftop" collaborative area lit by LED pendants with acoustical fins. The insert adds visual dimension and improves functionality as a buffer between teams with potentially clashing work styles.
A bleacher-style seating grandstand provides access to this "upper deck" and serves as seating for office-wide meetings held in a "town square" zone, including a kitchenette and gathering space with lounge seating.
The renovation retains private offices on the perimeter but replaces the walls with floor-to-ceiling glass.The design team also lowered the height of workstation partitions, bringing transferred light into the core. Uncovering the light monitor skylights (covered by previous tenants to control glare) and installing fabric roller shades provide additional natural daylight for the entire floor, including the boardroom with its double-height volume and exposed structural brick.
The company’s logo inspired the color palette of the brand-conscious design, which also appears in art film on the glass wall separating reception from the work zones – a feature introduced to hint at the activity beyond. The design for reception includes a wall of reclaimed timbers and stained concrete floor, contributing to an industrial-chic aesthetic. Combined efforts resulted in a playful, collaborative work environment that maintains the historic, industrial character of the building while reflecting the client’s goals for their office.
The project was led by architect Joshua Zinder Architecture + Design (JZA + D) and constructed by ML7 Construction & Design, LLC. AKF Group served as MEP engineers and Venezia Engineering LLC served as structural engineers. The furniture dealer was Indoff Commercial Office Interiors.
Material Used :
1. Tandus – Carpeting
2. Bentley – Carpeting
3. Armstrong - Ceiling tile
4. Garden State Tile - Floor tiles
5. Daltile - Floor tiles
6. Formica - Plastic laminate millwork
7. Real Antique Wood - Reclaimed wood feature walls
8. Brookside Veneers - Composite wood veneer reception desk
9. MDC Custom Graphic
10. Soycrete - Concrete finish
11. Caesarstone - Quartz counter tops
12. Drexel Metals - Corrugated metal on mezzanines
13. KI Lightline - Glass and door wall systems
14. Tech Lighting - Decorative pendant fixtures
15. 3Form LightArt - Acoustical & decorative pendant fixtures
