Our friends at the Brooklyn-based architecture firm StudiosC, who have, in recent years, undertaken a bevy of adaptive reuse project, have undertaken their latest in the form of the transformation of an neglected Williamsburg loft into a workspace for a boutique law firm. The 3,K SqFt office features abundant natural light and a restored timber-frame ceiling; with the addition of custom furniture, the firm sought to create a meaningful dialogue between design of the past, specifically of the loft, and that of the present: a relaxed, warm-hued environment for a boutique law firm. The addition of a concrete-and-steel roof deck which serves as a gathering place for employees and visitors is connected to the main office by a central corridor. Says StudiosC principal Stephen Conte, “Office design has to transcend just workstations and start to build a sense of comfort and community.” Restoring elements of the original loft was also a method of reducing waste, as well as paying homage to 20th century loft-craftsmanship: the firm sought to incorporate elements of the existing building’s structure wherever possible.
