In Construction
This long-term, repeat client wanted to breathe new life into a tired and worn-out facility. Operating for over 40 years in a near-constant capacity, this workhorse lab and office facility was long overdue for a refresh. With strategic space planning and extensive mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work, Collective Office, along with a team of consultants and the Hallstar team, peeled back the layers to bring the building into the modern era with a fresh start.
The new space at Hallstar Bedford Park pulls design cues from its sister project, Hallstar Beauty - Darien, creating a cohesive visual continuity between the two projects. Although this building lacks the height that the Darien location had, changes in ceiling materiality define spaces throughout the project, creating an intriguing composition of positive and negative space.
By tactfully removing portions of the existing interior CMU partitions, we were able to open the space up and make the building feel bigger and more connected. The introduction of new glass partitions, glass doors, and interior windows extend the visual connections even further, allowing light and views to permeate the space.
Greater physical connection is also now possible as three separate labs were combined into one large state-of-the-art lab space. In addition, the two conference rooms are able to be opened up and combined for larger events, thanks to the addition of two articulating glass walls.
The patchwork of outdated and underperforming equipment hidden from view was also wiped clean and given a fresh start, taking this renovation well beyond just a cosmetic update. Years of ad hoc repairs and modifications had turned the space into a maze of unseen infrastructure. Even though this doesn't impact the visual design of the space, it's paramount to address these services in order to improve the quality of life for everyone inside.
As we near the end of construction, ownership is excited to move back into the facility. Hopefully extending its life many more years into the future and improving the lives of their employees.
