On the Boards Archives - 4/4 Architecture Projects

January 20, 2021August 9, 2022

Workplace with Light and Space

office design Bethlehem — Apex Property’s office now features light and space

Apex Management manages both residential and commercial properties and wanted a workplace that featured light and space. Recently, they knew it was time to move out of their previous location. They had been in an older row house in downtown Bethlehem. Fortunately, an opportunity came to relocate their business to the top floor of a commercial office building. The new third floor location was an improvement in many ways. It provided more space to the staff. There are lots of windows that bring in natural light and a sweeping view across Bethlehem towards South Mountain. Plus, the space was pre-furnished with office furniture from a previous tenant. What more was needed? The thing that the space was missing was personality and privacy!

Tracy Yadush, who is the CEO of Apex Management, expressed a list of needs: She wanted her new office suite to offer privacy for meeting with clients and privacy for tenants who frequently stop by to make rent payments. Also, she wanted the space to feel personalized, to be a place that she and her staff could be proud of and enjoy coming to work every day. It was during the innocent pre-Covid days of course, when we got started on the project …

‘What do you want in your workplace?’

When we first met with Tracy, she had already prepared a collage of images that inspired her. (She used a phone app to organize her inspiration that we’d like to start using, too.) These ranged from light fixtures to interior finishes.

The design aesthetic was about funkiness and 1960’s vintage, in a tasteful and subtle way. Think Madmen rather than Batman.

We also understood — light and space mattered to Tracy.

Budget-friendly resources and solutions

In working with Tracy, we determined that there were three key areas in the existing office space that needed definition and different levels of privacy. These included a reception area, a new kitchenette/ staff lounge, and a large conference room. The idea was not to divide up the space with solid partitions, but to use partitions that would allow light to pass through and still create acoustic privacy. However, glass partitions tend to be pricy and specialty translucent glass tends to be even pricier. In addition, glass panels are heavy! Fortunately, we had some good solutions for Tracy and Apex.

To separate the reception area from the open office area, we included a sliding barn door in our plans. We designed large wood frames to hold the panels and a wood frame for the sliding barn door.

Then, one of the resources we like to bring to our projects is a knowledge of materials and fabrication techniques. With an eye towards budget friendly and locally sourced products, we contacted Palram in Kutztown about using their polycarbonate panels.

After comparing different samples with Tracy, we selected the Sunlite White Opal product for the partitions. The panels are very durable structurally, lightweight, offer good light transmittance and have a class A fire performance rating.

Worksplace Light & Space and the Elements of Surprise

There are always some surprises in a design project; we like the surprises to be good ones. Covid wasn’t one of these, and it definitely extended the construction process. On the bright side, we were fortunate to have Quadratus Construction Management of Bethlehem to coordinate the subcontractors involved. One of the nicest surprises was the transformation of the space itself. Now, the translucent panels in their frames cast a special quality of light and give a calming feel to the space. Best of all, the team at Apex are happy with the results and yes, it does feel like home now.

If you’re looking to redesign your workplace, contact us at gary@44architure.com.

September 9, 2020August 9, 2022

Nature At A Busy Crossroads

Using biophilic design to create the “Garden at Austin’s Auto.”

843 West Broad Street, Bethlehem | Client: Nelson Tavarez

Together with Austin’s Auto, 4/4 Architecture proposed a part-sun, west-facing, eco-friendly garden inspired by biophilic design for a busy intersection between the Cities of Bethlehem and Allentown. This is a small, overgrown, and triangular shaped property that our client is purchasing from the City of Bethlehem. The project both supports the human need to relate to nature with the modern built environment and helps the adjacent business thrive. The garden nods to biophilic design, which seeks to increase connections with nature. Such juxtaposition of nature with a busy crossroads highlights the possibilities of unity through diversity in the natural world. Here, the mechanics of automobiles and the fluidity of nature can come together in a positive way.

The Triangular Lot

Other business owners or developers might have eyed the property to buy or demolish. But Austin’s Auto wants to do right by the land. When the owner called us, we sought out Sienna Mae Heath (The Quarantined Gardener). Our client wanted to be a good neighbor. We sensed he would also be interested in developing the landscape into something more than a typical line of evergreens. The outcome is a win-win solution: We listened to our client and then developed a concept using the right team, which also includes Civitas Regio, Civil Engineers.

As a result, the proposed landscape design will both add natural interest to the neighborhood and screen customer parking. Being in a highly visible spot, all those driving through this busy intersection will see a beautiful urban garden.

The Garden Design Plan

Currently the spot is dense with several leaning evergreen trees. Once replanted, The Garden at Austin’s Auto will be able to flourish and add beauty year-round. It will feature annual and perennial blooms alongside fast-growing arborvitae — a beautiful buffer between the cars and the customers.

The landscape design evolved to include a hedge of North Pole Arborvitae (so apt for this gateway to the Christmas City; it grows 10 ft. tall), Panicle Limelight Hydrangea (6-8 ft. tall, and lower-growing Catmint.

Sienna recommends that the Cora Cascada Vinca mix serve as a reliable blooming annual at the feet of this tall hedge. Creeping Phlox groundcover keep the weeds down. On the busier W. Broad streetside, three Mexican Feather Grass plantings (reaching 2 ft. tall) add a soft feel to the fast-growing hedge. As an optional touch, we welcome between the grass both Globemaster Allium (4-5 ft. tall) and Salvia Burgundy Candles (2 ft. fall).

Plus, Sienna adds, the wispy, cool green grass contrasts with the bushy lavender catmint nearby and with the boldly purple salvia through late spring and fall. Allium makes its debut for added playful texture in early June.

Have an unusually shaped lot or looking for creative ways to expand? Interested in biophilic design, which seeks to bring nature into our lives in more and creative ways? Contact us at gary@44architure.com.

August 24, 2020April 1, 2021

Expressing Tradition in a New Context

‘770 Comes to Suburbia’: How One Congregation Expressed Tradition in a Brand New Context

design a house of worship — Chabad of South Brunswick, New Jersey

Recently, Chabad of South Brunswick came to us for a synagogue design to rehabilitate their synagogue sanctuary and social hall. When a client asks us to design a house of worship, we ensure that we align both spiritual and down-to-earth needs. Not only does the congregation want to achieve calm and peace of mind in the space, but also they need to use their resources wisely and express who they are.

Chabad of South Brunswick’s social hall would need to make the most of its existing footprint, they said, which we would certainly be able to help with. It stood on a corner with traffic on two sides, and was attached to an existing residence. We got started, producing a simple and economical synagogue design that worked. At this point, we were halfway through the design process. That’s when our client put one more design challenge on the table.

Refining the Synagogue Design

The client showed us a book with a picture of a tall and stately brick building on the cover. He said, “I’m not saying make it look like this, but a lot of my colleagues are making their buildings look like 770.”

770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, my client meant. The Rebbe (1902-1988), seventh in a line of leaders of the Chabad Lubavitch movement in Judaism, lived at this address for many years. Born to humble beginnings in Russia, as a leader he inspired hundreds of thousands with his wisdom and foresight.

Now, the Rebbe’s iconic brick home rose three stories and had gravitas, with a definite urban feel. It featured three gables. 770 sported grand front-and-center double doors. A brick wall out front mirrored others in its urban neighborhood.

But South Brunswick’s synagogue was a single story. Busy roads run along two sides of the building. There are no other stately brick buildings in sight.

So the contexts of the two buildings had little in common. Meanwhile, other requirements of today just weren’t on the radar for the builders of 770. Namely, the new building would need to be accessible. That included having a ramp leading into the building.

The question we asked our client was: What if there were a way to use 770 as a guide to how to organize the façade without literally mimicking it? Can we reinterpret 770 to fit this context? Yes, they decided, this sounded good, so we proceeded.

The floorpan already included key organizational elements, such as a central entrance flanked by a worship space and social hall on either side. The three gables and the symmetry are an essential part of the design. Perhaps a modern interpretation could use the form of the gable shape to make a lofty interior space, without making the addition too large and imposing? After all, the client was looking for high ceilings. Perhaps the gable shapes could be more glass than solid brick, to allow views to the heavens?

The synagogue design began to take shape and both the client and architect are happy with the reinterpretation. The end result meets the original requirement — and brings the spirit of 770 to suburbia.

Need someone to design your house of worship? Contact us at gary@44architecture.com.

August 6, 2020April 1, 2021

Growing a Business

Like a Fine Wine, Growing a Business Takes Time…But Hopefully Not Too Much!

Kevin Danna of Binah Winery worked with 4/4 Architecture to expand his growing business into a new location. — Click on the photo to hear Kevin’s experience in opening Binah Winery’s second location.

Binah Winery | Client Kevin M. Danna

Award-winning winemaker Kevin Danna needed a larger space for his wine-making business. Growing a business in Allentown, he located a good space at Bridgeworks Enterprise Center in Allentown. Recently, from the staging area of his now-open space, Kevin explained his wine-making process: One of the things that differentiates his kosher winery from all others is his use of grapes from the Eastern United States. As a result, his winery is generating interest among those who appreciate good wine. In fact, Binah Winery took home several awards from the American Wine Society.

Expanding to a Second Location

When Kevin first found his new space, in an industrial building operated by the Allentown Economic Development Corporation, it was nearly ready to use. He had a tight timeframe and reached out to 4/4 Architecture about his business’s space needs and the related municipal requirements. It turns out, Gary (4/4’s President) was able to help and Kevin soon opened his doors for business.

“Binah Winery a really cool business and I’m happy for Kevin that he’s opening a second location,” Gary said. “It’s one of my goals to help proprietors get their businesses up and running.”

What a Growing Business Needs from an Architect Varies

What a business needs from an architect varies from one project to another. Some businesses are at the stage that they can invest in a new building that Gary designs from the ground up to reflect who they are. In this case, both the exterior and the interior can express the business’s brand. Plus, the space meets their functional needs and serves as a great place to work. One glance and you understand what this business is about. The owner can take pride in such a project and employees love working there.

But there are many steps that need to happen before a business gets to that point. It starts with the basics. What does the business need in order to perform its core functions? That can mean electrical and plumbing fit outs, like for Binah Winery. Architectural drawings communicate to the city what is planned and to the contractors what needs to be done, how, and where. That protects business owners by ensuring they have a space that supports them in providing a quality product — by way of a smooth workflow in their space. Businesses evolve and we like to be there to help make that happen.

If you are considering the space needs for your new or growing business, contact us at gary@44architecture.com.

July 31, 2020April 1, 2021

It Was ‘Destiny’

When You Open a New Business, Don’t Let the Bumps Knock You Off the Road

New Business - Destiny Nail Salon's grand opening in 2020 — Dina Iley (right) with one of Destiny Nail Salon’s first customers. Dina and husband John Iley had the courage to open a new business in the age of Coronavirus.

Destiny Nail Salon | Clients: Dina and John Iley

Are you getting ready to open a new business? In early 2020, so were Dina and John Iley. For Destiny Nail Salon, Dina had the pedicure chairs all picked out even before she and husband John found a space to open such a new business. She knew the decor, the functional requirements, had chosen the color scheme. She and John, who gets up early for his job each day, felt it would be good for their family and give them flexibility. They had the finances managed down to a T. A family member recommended Gary to Dina and John when they needed an architect. Despite the best made plans, though, the couple still had a few bumps in the road ahead of them because of world events that spring. It’s important not to let those bumps knock you off the road to opening your own business.

What the couple had not anticipated was the local building code requires a special level of ventilation for nail salons. This was news because Dina had worked in many salons and none had special ventilation. They initially wanted to skip it but we connected them with our mechanical engineer to get the job done right, from the start. Anything else means delays, do-overs, and dollars.

As the April 2020 grand opening neared for the new business, so did something else: Coronavirus. The month slated for Destiny Nail Salon to open would go down in history for the pandemic that shut down the economy. The shutdown impacted salons more than most businesses. Most of the population went around for months in need of haircuts and nail care.

By early June, the state of Pennsylvania loosened restrictions, but Dina and John still couldn’t plan their Grand Opening — they didn’t know when the governor would allow salons to open. After that finally happened, on Friday, June 26, John and Dina opened the doors of Destiny Nail Salon at 348 Main Street in Emmaus, phone number 267.977.2429. That morning, they welcomed their first customers.

We visited the following Sunday during the Emmaus Farmer’s Market. The shop faces the Triangle and the sidewalks were full, with people stopping in to find out more. “I didn’t even know there was a nail salon here,” one woman said as she picked up the brochure.

“There wasn’t, until this past Friday!” came the answer. Looking back, what seemed to take forever, generating more than a few sleeplesss nights, now seems to have gone quickly. The results are better than the couple envisioned. But Dina and John knew from the start that it would be — after all, it was Destiny.

If you need design help or construction drawings to turn your dreams into reality, contact us at gary@44architecture.com.

May 20, 2020April 1, 2021

Historic Farmhouse Preservation

‘What will it take to make this building usable?’

Unlock the front door of a home being considered for historic preservation and you open a view to layers of history. I’ve seen some doors chained shut with padlocks and others boarded up with hammer and nails. This Historic Farmhouse could still be opened with a key, though, a good sign. It stands on an attractive site, at the far end of a subdivision and adjacent to a stream. The backyard is even on a trail where I like to go for bike rides with my sons. But on that, my first visit to the Farmhouse, my purpose was to determine: What will it take to make this building usable?

As a first step, I examine and document existing conditions, including: Site conditions. Building envelope (exterior) and structure. Accessibility. Major systems like mechanical, electrical and plumbing. So I got started.

The exterior of the Farmhouse hides its promise behind boarded up windows. Inside, solid timbers supporting the floor and roof were visible. Some even had family names and dates written on them. The house dates all the way back to the early 1800s.

Layers of history on display

Renovations were done now and then over the years. The first and second floor reveal the hand of someone who had tried to redecorate in a contemporary 1940s fashion. These modifications were fashionable for only a short time, yet here were layers of history on display. Overall, the place conveys a feeling of opulence, now faded.

More significant for today’s purpose, though, would be what the building could offer new occupants. Unusual for an old homestead, the room size and ceiling height seemed generous.

The basement and attic revealed the “bones,” still strong. This is probably a result of the quality and size of the timber framing and because it has been kept dry through the past 200 years. That’s no small feat.

It was evident the roof can stay. Notably, even though it is slate, it is probably not original. Pine decking above the timbers suggests the Farmhouse originally had wood shingles.

The Farmhouse was built well before modern plumbing. Later owners must have decided that a bathroom would be more important than a formal front entrance because the space is now occupied by a powder room, a lamentable choice. Probably these same owners also put ductwork though the front entrance to heat the house.

Goals for the historic preservation

When you approach historic preservation, it’s important to identify the goals upfront. These could range from just making the space usable to fully restoring the building to its original historic period — though usually with modern systems.

In my role on the South Bethlehem Historic Review Board, I’ve seen most owners opt for the former. Rather than restoration, they want spaces that are comfortable and practical for today’s uses. Likewise, the Township of Whitehall’s charge for this Farmhouse is to determine the cost of making the building usable in order to make an informed decision on what to do with the property.

To keep everybody on the same page, we get specific about what this means. For starters in this case, usable means everything is in good repair, signs and causes of mildew and water damage are addressed, and specific systems are updated and working properly.

Moving the project forward

The good news is that the Farmhouse appears structurally sound. The Township is considering the report on existing conditions and will decide how to move forward.

From there on out, good communication helps the project flow smoothly. Almost any project involves agencies and engineers, departments and contractors who need to be part of the conversation. In addition to design work and construction drawings, the architect has a central project management role in bringing a historic preservation project to fruition.

There will still be many decisions to be made. An example in this case: Next to the house is what is believed to be a mid-1700s domicile that later became a summer kitchen. While it’s easy to look back and be fascinated, it’s at least as important to look forward toward new uses.

If you’d like to determine the potential of your historic building, contact me at gary@44architecture.com.