BUILDING BIG IN SMALL SPACES: Equus Capital Partners Lobby
When one of their buildings needed a facelift, Equus Capital Partners enlisted the help and leadership of Structure Tone Philadelphia. Located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, the renovation consisted of refurbishing many of the building’s common areas, including the atrium, two-story lobby, vestibule, foyer, and three floors of restrooms.
While not large in scale, the project brought new life to the building for its tenants and allowed the Structure Tone team to do what they do best: creatively solve construction challenges.
GREEN HAVEN
One factor that makes the project particularly unique is the design’s “earthy” finishes. “They have a moss wall along the lobby stairs, which is unique in and of itself,” says Peter Miller, superintendent for Structure Tone Philadelphia. “It consists of preserved reindeer moss imported directly from Germany.” The moss wall is also maintenance-free, playing off the humidity in the building. Customers and clients alike are transported into a green oasis when stepping inside the building and lobby.
After the demolition of the existing stairwell, however, the team quickly realized there was a partition wall between the stairs and the client space that sat atop them. “There was some reengineering to correct the situation as well as some careful demolition of the lower landing and stairs,” says Miller. “We had to then pack out the partition wall to install the moss wall as well as the millwork.”
GETTING IN SYNC
Bringing older buildings up to modern standards entails more than just finishes and furniture— there are also changes to building codes and standards to contend with.
“Getting all of the systems, from fire alarms to exit signage, to sync with each other and meet current safety codes was a bit of a trial,” explains Miller. “But safety is paramount, so our team worked diligently to make sure everything was up to code.”
Despite a few challenges, Miller states that the team was proud of how they were able to help their client realize their vision for updating the building. “Overall, it worked out beautifully,” says Miller. “Here at Structure Tone, it’s always an amazing team effort. The client loved it. We just have a great team.”