Mancini•Duffy Provides Architectural Services for Normandy Real Estate Partner's Transformation of 25th Street Property

Design Team Re-envisions Interiors and Exteriors of 11-Story Chelsea Office Building; Property to Undergo Dynamic Redesign 

Mancini•Duffy, a leading architectural and interiors practice, has been commissioned by Normandy Real Estate Partners to provide full architectural design services for the renovation and modernization of Normandy’s 125 West 25^th Street. Initial plans call for prime ground-floor retail and expanded retail storage in the lower level of the 12-story, 140,000-square-foot loft office building located in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. In addition to the retail component, the top ten floors will offer new office space with a fresh, modern infrastructure.

“We’re truly looking forward to working with Normandy Real Estate Partners  on the renovation of its building at 125 West 25^th Street,” said William Mandara, Jr., a principal at  Mancini•Duffy.  “It’s a great opportunity to showcase the firm’s capabilities, while highlighting how efficient design provides a strong advantage to property owners looking to reposition their assets.”

For 125 West 25^th Street, Mancini•Duffy has designed a unique lighted glass curtain wall encompassing the first three stories and replacing the existing and antiquated metal skin.  The firm has also created a new tenant lobby for the eastern portion of the building along 25^th street, while a freight area will be constructed on the west side’s entrance.  Plans also call for the complete upgrade and modernization of the building’s mechanical, HVAC and plumbing systems we well as LEED Gold certification.

Fran Ferrone and Priyanka Agrawala of Mancini•Duffy’s Center for Workplace Innovation to Present at NeoCon East Expo and Conference

What: Fran Ferrone and Priyanka Agrawala will be presenters at the upcoming NeoCon East exposition and conference in Baltimore, Md. As part of the session, “Don’t Waste a Good Crisis; Hurricane Sandy as a Catalyst for Change,” Ferrone and Agrawala will cite examples of how, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy’s devastation, companies were forced to work in ways foreign to their corporate cultures, and offer  insight into how clients can build a more flexible workplace. Additionally, Mancini•Duffy’s Center for Workplace Innovation will explore how design professionals can incorporate new roles, methods and disciplines into their practices that will help clients make better decisions to future proof their work environments.

When/Where: Baltimore Convention Center, One West Pratt Street, Baltimore, Md., on Wednesday, October 29 from 9:30-10:30 AM. For more information about the conference or to register, visit: https://reg.neocon.com/neoeast/.   

Who: Fran Ferrone is a senior associate and the director of the Center for Workplace Innovation at Mancini•Duffy in New York City, where she helps the firm’s clients prepare for, communicate and manage change by aligning design solutions with business drivers. She has more than 25 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies in the U.S and abroad, developing meaningful performance metrics and building high-performance workplace management teams.

Priyanka Agrawala, PMP, LEED AP, is an associate and strategist at Mancini•Duffy’s Center for Workplace Innovation. Her background in facilities planning and architecture affords her a unique understanding of organizational culture, the workplace, and how they impact each other. Her combination of micro-planning, detailed modeling and data computation allows clients the invaluable opportunity to “test drive” scenarios in advance of committing to a final decision.

Why: NeoCon East is the East Coast’s premier design expo and conference for commercial interiors.  For two days, the biggest names in the industry come together to learn and educate about the latest innovations, make lasting connections, and discover new materials and products. 

Fran Ferrone

Priyanka Agrawala

Mancini•Duffy Tapped to Create “Living” Interior Master Plan for Somerset Development’s Two Million Square-Foot Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ

Cohesive Vision for Adaptive Reuse of Historic and Architectural Landmark 

Mancini•Duffy, a leading architectural and interiors practice, has been retained by Somerset Development to create a master plan for the interior design of Bell Works that will provide cohesion for the iconic adaptive reuse development in Holmdel, New Jersey.  Christian Giordano, Principal and President, Director of Architecture at Mancini•Duffy, working with lead redevelopment architect Alexander Gorlin Architects, will spearhead the initiative, which will serve as a guiding blueprint for future developments, leasing practices, overall building renovations and tenant development plans at Bell Works. Mr. Giordano is joined by Alan Dandron, Principal, and Bill Mandara, Principal, also of Mancini•Duffy, who lend a combined 60 years of expertise to the assignment.

Formerly named Bell Labs, the Bell Works facility is currently undergoing a $100-million adaptive reuse redevelopment, the eventual result of which will be a modern, mixed-use complex. Originally designed by famed architect Eero Saarinen in 1962 as the headquarters of Bell Laboratories, the complex was constructed over a two year period, between 1962 and 1964, and was upgraded in 1982. In its new iteration, Somerset’s vision includes a pedestrian promenade within the building’s existing atrium that will serve as the central gathering space while connecting tenants and visitors to a host of dining, entertainment, and health and wellness services. The new property will also feature high-end retail and restaurants, high-quality office space, state-of-the-art health and wellness facilities, educational space, and a hotel with a conference center.

In addition to the creation of an interior master plan for the historic complex, Mancini•Duffy will also be reconfiguring the building’s various cores and infrastructure to accommodate the most efficient layouts for use by corporate tenants. The Garibaldi Group and M. Wilk Consulting serve as the exclusive office and retail leasing agents for Bell Works, respectively.

“It’s an honor to bring such a historic building designed by a truly iconic architect to the next stage of its life cycle. We are eager to begin work on the facility and play a vital role in its transformation,” said Giordano. “This extensive space has a fascinating past and even brighter future, and its presence will offer a great many opportunities to the businesses in and around Holmdel, which also happens to be the area in which I spent my formative years.”

Mancini•Duffy will also be involved in the building’s future, providing architectural services for tenants including visioning and programming, test fits, design development, construction documentation and construction administration. The firm has been retained to present area block outs and renderings to assist in attracting future tenants to the finished space.

Somerset Development selected internationally recognized architecture firm, Alexander Gorlin Architects, to serve as the lead architect for the redevelopment of the facility. The firm, which specializes in a wide range of projects including historically significant, adaptive reuse developments, will oversee the execution of programming, re-branding and restoration for Bell Works’ public and common area spaces.

Mancini•Duffy Names Christian Giordano President as Firm Heads into 100th Year

Industry Veterans Anthony Schirripa, Theodore Hammer to Co-Chair Architecture and Interiors Leader

Mancini•Duffy, a leading architectural and interiors practice, announces that Christian D. Giordano, Principal and Director of Architecture, has been appointed President of the firm. In this role, Mr. Giordano is charged with leadership of the growing firm as it moves into its 100^th year in 2015 and beyond. The announcement was made by Anthony P. Schirripa, FAIA IIDA, the firm’s CEO and Co- Chairman.

Mr. Schirripa also announced that Theodore Hammer, who most recently served as president of Mancini•Duffy, is taking on the role of chief operating officer and co-chairman.  Mr. Schirripa said, “Together, Ted, Christian and I will take a century of knowledge – the firm’s and our own combined experience – and put it to work to inspire Mancini•Duffy for a new generation of excellence and innovation.”

About Mr. Giordano, Mr. Schirripa said, “Christian brings the remarkable combination of design talent and business savvy to his leadership at Mancini•Duffy, and instills a creative, optimistic team spirit and environment for our continued growth.”  Mr. Hammer added, “We have long been a firm prized for smart, cutting-edge design that enabled our clients’ businesses to flourish. With Christian as President, we will build upon that reputation to earn recognition for our own innovative work environment and our ability to deliver architectural solutions as well as interior designs that help our clients achieve their goals.”

Mr. Giordano brings almost two decades of experience to his role as President at Mancini•Duffy, including work for major corporations and developers at HLW and Swanke Hayden Connell in New York as well as the firm Morphosis in Los Angeles. In his role as Director of Architecture at Mancini•Duffy, Mr. Giordano’s portfolio of work and relationships have helped the firm establish a new presence in hotel and multifamily architecture, as well as broadening the company’s service on behalf of some of the largest creative corporations in the nation, especially in the broadcast and advertising worlds. He studied architecture at University of Miami and received his Master’s degree from UCLA. He was recently named to Building Design + Construction’s “40 Under 40” list featuring 40 esteemed industry professionals with distinguished careers, who demonstrated service to their professions and communities, and who are actively participating in charity work.

“For 100 years, Mancini•Duffy has set a standard for merging both great design and smart business practices to inform our work, and we will carry that forward to a new level in our next century,” Mr. Giordano said. “First, we will be our own best client – putting the ideas we identify in our Center for Workplace Innovation to work in our own space, making sure we are fostering an environment that lets us test concepts and flourish with best practices. Equally, we are going to continue to be a fantastic, progressive firm, where the overall happiness of our team elevates our work and our service to our clients and the community.”

Mr. Giordano said his partners share his commitment to the enhancement of Mancini•Duffy’s inventive culture, and the drive to attract exciting young talent to work on both the growing architecture and interiors practices. “We will put great, thoughtful design front and center, and leverage this expertise to solve our client’s problems,” Mr. Giordano said. “Watch for us to elevate our game – a game that we already play at the very highest level.”

Mancini•Duffy Completes Transformation of Normandy Real Estate Partners' 575 Lexington Avenue

Reimagined Entry and Lobby of 35-Story Office Tower in Midtown Manhattan

Mancini•Duffy, a leading architectural and interiors practice, has completed the transformation of Normandy Real Estate Partners’ 35-story, 749,040 square-foot office tower, 575 Lexington Avenue. The firm’s dynamic design created an inviting lobby, new storefront, grand entrance, state-of-the-art elevator cabs, and a high-definition media wall. This was Mancini•Duffy’s first collaboration with Normandy; presently, the firm is working on the renovation of another building in the developer’s portfolio, 125 W. 25^th Street.

“Mancini•Duffy is proud to once again work with Normandy Real Estate Partners on its asset at 575 Lexington Avenue,” said Christian Giordano, President of Mancini•Duffy. “We’re passionate about creating inviting and functional spaces that have a unique aesthetic, which also provides our clients with the tools necessary to attract top-quality tenants and be competitive in today’s market.”

Mancini•Duffy’s updated design features a two-story entryway, whose exterior canopy extends inward and acts as a ceiling for the interior lobby, creating a continuous connection between the indoor/outdoor spaces of the building. The bright, new entryway opens up the exterior of the ground-floor retail space, while paying homage to the dark glass façade above. Inside, the lobby is accentuated by a high-definition media wall which displays natural landscapes and programs geared towards clients and special occasions.

Interior and exterior finishes and materials used by Mancini•Duffy at 575 Lexington Avenue included white quartzite stone, statuary marble, wood, veneer, stainless steel, and high-end light fixtures.