Photo by Grandarmy
Photo by Grandarmy
Storefront Rendering
Photo by Grandarmy
Having already completed dozens of successful restaurants across the country, Sweetgreen was looking to develop and test new branding concepts for future expansion. Our office was tasked with translating these ideas into an architectural experience to be deployed at their Brooklyn location
The food is at the center of Sweetgreen's mission and dining experience and was the focus of the new design. Simple, neutral finishes were used throughout to highlight the fresh, vibrant ingredients and food displays. Food preparation was also moved from the back of house and integrated into a new sampling bar / dining area. Customers now have the opportunity to interact with staff and sample featured ingredients prior to ordering. Additional custom fixtures were designed and branding interventions were strategically deployed throughout the space to further enhance the dining experience. Circulation, often problematic in other locations, was also reworked to ease congestion during peak dining hours and separate in-house and take-out diners.
Sweetgreen Dumbo
Building upon a successful re-brand of the the Art of Shaving retail locations, brand executives set out to develop new "ultra-luxury" brand experiences in key high-profile markets. The first such location opened in Beverly Hills in 2012 and has been frequented by Hollywood actors, celebrities and professional athletes.
The store's typical program and standard fixture systems were redefined. A typical Art of Shaving is heavily focused on the retail consumer while these new locations are focused primarily on the barbering experience. The concept was to develop an experience that combined the look and feel and rich materiality of a vintage gentleman's club with the brand's contemporary approach to barbering and shaving. The resulting space is sleek, sophisticated yet rooted in the rich history and heritage of male grooming.
Project Completed for Pompei AD
The Art of Shaving Beverly Hills
Coldwell Banker was looking to find a permanent home for their downtown Jersey City office in a highly visible and heavily trafficked location. They ultimately chose to take three floors in an historic building along the bustling Newark Avenue that was undergoing an extensive renovation and expansion.
Rather than providing their typical vanilla box style office, executives were persuaded to feature an industrial style aesthetic in keeping with the adjacent businesses and restaurants along Newark Avenue. The raw character of the existing building and new addition was preserved and highlighted in the design. Exposed brick and the new addition's steel structure were left exposed. Polished concrete, reclaimed wood, exposed spiral ductwork and sprinkler piping were also featured throughout the office. The highly successful concept of developing a location specific aesthetic was subsequently deployed at several other Coldwell Banker Locations.
Project Completed for Sionas Architecture PC
Coldwell Banker Jersey City
The AFC's Harlem drop-in center It provides a safe and supportive environment where New York City's homeless LGBTQ youth can escape the streets and have access to a wide range of support services. The center is the nation's first 24-hour drop-in facility and offers services during critical weekend and overnight hours when most services are generally unavailable
The facility is divided into four areas: a counseling and administrative support office wing, a business center for educational programs and job training, a small medical clinic and a group room / dining area with kitchens, bathrooms, showers and laundry facilities. In addition to accommodating the complex programmatic requirements on an extremely limited budget, the design of the facility focused on using simple materials and color in creative and unexpected ways to provide a comfortable, welcoming and uplifting space.
Project Completed at Richard Ayotte Architecture, PC