Columbia Property Trust Revitalizes 95 Columbus in Jersey City

A.E.C

The all-glass entrance fills the lofty lobby with natural light.

As the Grove Street area in Jersey City, New Jersey continues its reinvention, so, too, are its buildings, including the recently completed 95 Columbus.

Working with global architecture firm Spectorgroup, owner Columbia Property Trust has reinvented the 680,000-square-foot office building — and contributed to the ongoing revitalization of the surrounding district — with a fresh and modernized lobby, an upgraded façade and a reimagined entryway to enhance the arrival experience for tenants and guests.

“Our goal for the 95 Columbus renovation was to create the best possible environment to enable our tenants to work and thrive. We combined Spectorgroup’s striking design with cutting-edge technology and an emphasis on wellness, while also enhancing the property’s connection to the vibrancy of the Grove Street retail and neighborhood,” said Columbia’s David Cheikin, executive vice president, East Coast. “The revitalized 95 Columbus is ideally positioned to attract grow-

A.E.C

95 Columbus is located in the Grove Street area.

ing companies looking for a fully modernized workplace that offers exceptional one-seat Midtown and Downtown transit access in the midst of a vibrant, walkable and culturally rich community.”

“As a leading developer, owner and operator, Columbia Property Trust wanted an updated lobby that aligned with their overall revitalization of 95 Columbus,” said Scott Spector, principal, Spectorgroup. “We found strategic ways to modernize the lobby with a design that places tenant and visitor experience at the forefront and bring that same experience to connect with the streetscape.”

An all-glass entrance and building vestibule seamlessly connects the building to the surrounding neighborhood and fills the triple-height lobby with natural daylight. A grid of suspended light fixtures over the reception area, as well as strategically placed seating and meeting areas, bring human scale and warmth to the expansive space, which is highlighted by a custom-designed reception desk made of polished granite and oxidized metal, and offset to allow for better traffic circulation through the lobby. Adding some visual punch, the building’s address number, “95,” is branded in backlit appliqué at the entry and repeated inside as a unique design detail. Additionally, “Brushes for Beuys” (2021), a series of large, shaped canvases by contemporary artist Gregory Coates installed on the wall near the elevator bank, brings a note of playfulness and urbanism that completes the modern lobby.

The fresh lobby design was carried out along the base of the building by recladding the retail spaces and repainting the building’s façade. Landscaping and seasonal greenery further activate the entrance and add a natural, biophilic aesthetic. The storefronts have been reinvented with new glass windows and a signage band to raise their visibility. Additionally, terracotta panels along the base of the building near the parking garage add texture and color, giving movement along the pedestrian path to and from the building.

Other finishes within the design include a pattern of brass inlays in the terrazzo flooring that is carried from the lobby into the pavers outside. A combination of vertical and custom fabricated horizontal concrete panels replaced the lobby’s former monolithic dark granite. Dark-stained wood paneling and pops of color in the furnishings draw attention to the lounge and meeting areas and provide contrast to the overall neutral palette. While renovating and modernizing the building systems, Columbia has continued to invest in technology and operating enhancements that emphasize occupant health, wellness and safety. These upgrades include installing automated digital access, touchless doors, bi-polar ionization air filtration and destination dispatch elevators throughout the building. Columbia also added an expansive bike storage room, bathroom and shower facilities and attached, 500-space indoor parking garage.

95 Columbus recently earned the BOMA 360 recognition for an eighth consecutive year and has earned LEED Gold, Fitwel and WiredScore Platinum certifications.

Greenery activates the lobby.

Photos by Chris Cooper

The address appears as a design detail.