Spacesmith Crafting by Design by Lori Soko Self-proclaimed as a “midtown firm with downtown attitude,” New York-based Spacesmith is now taking its design focus full circle, illustrated by its new name, Spacemith, and its expansion into the hospitality, retail and residential design markets. “Spacesmith represents the firm’s modern sensibility, creativity and craftsmanship,” says Jane Smith, AIA, and CEO, “it also represents a new energy and commitment to grow, by raising the bar in every area of design and communication.” As one of the largest woman-owned architecture and design firms in the country with billings exceeding $2.8 million, this firm has been recognized for its 25 years of experience in providing outstanding architecture and design for such renowned clients as Polo Ralph Lauren, Ericsson, DKNY, Hearst Corporation, Visa, and NYU. Now, as many of the firm’s clients are advancing, Smith, who has been Principal of the firm for the past 18 years, says “we must keep up to be partners with them in creating space and solutions that help them achieve their branding and image goals for total lifestyle design.” Room and Board stairs
Interior Focus Specifically, the launch of Spacesmith establishes Spacesmith Interiors, an in-house design studio which addresses the growing demand for innovative and stylish interiors in the worlds of hospitality, retail and residential lifestyle design. Joining Jane Smith, AIA, are partners Maureen Cornwell, IIDA, and Valerie Pasquiou. Pasquiou, whose select clientele has included Lisa Kudrow, Sharon Stone and K.D. Lang, is an internationally celebrated interior designer recognized for translating brand messages into three-dimensional forms and spaces throughout the
U.S. and in Europe. “Maureen and I believe that Valerie’s brilliance, vision and ability to create elegant design with a modern sensibility will infuse our architecture and design work on behalf of both individuals and business clients,” says Smith. “We are among the very few commercial firms to boast a designer of Valerie’s energy and talent.”
Retail Spacesmith design and architecture expertise is revealed in a wide variety of projects they have completed for an equally diverse clientele. For Kellwood’s latest fashion designer, David Meister, for example, Spacesmith was retained to design a 10,000-sq. ft. office and showroom space at 550 Seventh Avenue in New York City. Spacesmith successfully translated the idea of fluidity and continuity throughout the space using a continuous hangrod reveal. As quoted from WWD, David Meister “wanted the space to be very modern, sleek and sexy, but still very simple.” The client’s needs for a straight-forward, yet a well-detailed design results in an architecture that is simple, elegant and timeless. The use of natural textures, the subtle change of materials and changing ceiling heights created the order and balance to the space that their client demanded. Spacesmith was also hired by Kellwood to design a showroom and office space for a licensee of Polo Ralph Lauren leather goods, New Campaign. Also located at 550 Seventh Avenue, the design of the space was created to be simple yet sophisticated, using a neutral color palette and natural materials such as bamboo flooring and
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ing space needs for the Company’s headquarters, design and operations facilities in New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and overseas in areas such as Singapore and Japan. Spacesmith has provided strategic planning services including programming, standards development, master planning and design services for over 100,000 rsf. The team works closely with their facilities and operations group as well as various division heads to provide functional, attractive space that meets the Company’s high standards of excellence within an environment of constant change and competitive positioning.
Residential
Jane Smith, AIA, President of Spacesmith
linen wallpaper adding texture to the space. This overall design gave the space a timeless and universal appeal, meeting the specific branding needs of the client. For retail giant Room & Board, Spacesmith designed its very first store on the East Coast at New York’s 150 Wooster Street. Meeting the need for its client’s customers to “come in, and be inspired,” the architect restored the building’s original landmark façade and worked with a local historian to investigate the original look of the wood and castiron storefront based on the earliest photographs found in the New York City’s Municipal Archive. The new 30,000 square foot space is now open in a graceful retail enclave in the heart of historic New York City’s SoHo district. Polo Ralph Lauren retained Spacesmith to provide ongoing design and project management services to meet their grow-
Pholo Ralph Lauren women’s showroom
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No stranger to high-end residential design, Spacesmith displayed its attention to both detail and drama by redesigning a two-story loft in a landmark building at Astor Place in New York City. Emphasizing an open ordered floor plan, minimalist detailing and a material palette using simple textures, the dramatic entry into the space also reveals a 12’6” tall translucent glass panel and an elegant floating staircase. The residence now hails a beautifully designed modern aesthetic for the owners of this private luxury residence. Taking the firm’s residential design talent international, Valerie Pasquiou, Design Partner, was recently retained by Michele Laroque, a highly recognized French actress, to renovate and design a 2,600 sq ft multi-level apartment located on the top floor of a 17th century building behind the Opera de Paris in France. The space was designed with the original architecture in tact, yet with modern elements added to it, creating a sophisticated, modern but warm, unpretentious and timeless living environment where 17th century architecture meets the 21st century.
Office Retail To ensure that their famous retail image was equally reflected in their executive offices, Donna Karan International hired Spacesmith to study the various spaces that had been leased by the firm over the years in three separate buildings and, considering cost and space efficiencies, to restack the
Kellwood showroom
space for the current organization’s needs and challenges. Spacesmith successfully relocated and consolidated their client’s executive, administrative and sales offices to 550 Seventh Avenue in New York City, where simple, elegant environments showcasing the Donna Karan Company image and ideals were created, while improving productivity through proper space utilization.
tural identity throughout this 19,000 sq. ft space. Mixed in with their Health, HIV, job training, and hot meal programs are cultural spaces. These spaces include a functioning theater with performances by Native American actors & dancers, an art gallery showcasing work by Native Artists, and a gift shop selling native-made jewelry & crafts.
For the non-profit Further attesting to the organization, Interna“I am very proud to be part of Spacesmith firm’s outstanding client tional Rescue Commitand to be joining the firm at such an excit- tee, Spacesmith was service, Spacesmith was ing time.Our architect and design team has retained to conduct hired by George Weiss and Associates to aeshuge creative potential and I do believe that a master plan for the thetically integrate the of office utilizaSpacesmith ‘s signature style is destined to analysis design of their 20th and tion, efficiency, design play a prominent role in the future of archi- and future growth for 21st floor headquarters at 320 Park Avenue. Spacetheir corporate headtecture and interior design.” smith worked closely quarters consisting of with the client to in order 85,000 sq. ft. in New Valerie Pasquiou, Principal, Interior Design to accommodate the York City. The maschallenging site conditer plan included protions and compressed gramming, test fits, and schedule within this 12,000 sq. ft. space. A new commuspace planning. New office standards were develnicating stair between these two floors was designed with oped and new adjancencies were implemented to crestainless steel railings, and the stair was dictated by the ate a more dynamic workflow to improve collaboration existing layout of the 20th floor. The relocation of a dense and communication. The Spacesmith team worked closenetwork of floor utilities required extensive coordination, ly with top management to provide recommendations, as did the required phasing due to the need to accommodevelop and implement a flexible, long-term strategy. date the employees during construction. The design also includes a new data center linking the datacom of both floors. It is clear that Spacesmith’s mission to branch out into “all areas in the creation of space” will not only continue to raise the bar In All Areas of design and service for its current corporate clientele, but will Spacesmith’s design services have also found success in also expand the firm’s artistic reach providing a creative edge the non-profit sector, with the design of the American Infor its new clientele. “We are now melding our existing signadian Community House, a non-profit cultural & social supture with a newer signature where everyone benefits,” Smith port facility for Native Americans in the New York area since concludes, “It is a celebration for what the firm has become.” 1969. With their upcoming relocation to lower Manhattan, Spacesmith was retained to design a space to accomwww.spacesmith.net modate their varied needs as well as represent their cul-
David Meister, reception area
DKNY, entranceway
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