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48 / BUILDING DIALOGUE / March 2020 Activating the Lobby, Creating a High-Value Hub Bryan Kristof Senior Designer and Director of Operations, Abel Design Group Designer Approved A s the quest to enhance the marketabil- ity of office lease space continues, the building lobby has become an amenity space for tenants and building guests to meet, collaborate and escape.Budget is one of the main reasons the building lobby has been overlooked for so long. Building owners are turned off by the perceived high cost of renovation as well as the project scope. Even with a large budget, the volume and complexity of a lobby renovation can be over- whelming. For example, the construction must be phased in a manner that allows the lobby to remain operational during a renovation. However, with a few strategic design decisions and clever planning, this pass-through space can be turned into a high value hub, even with a modest budget. STRATEGIC DECISIONS A key consideration a designer must make in a lobby renovation is where to invest the budget. Originally designed in 1975, the buttoned-up U.S. Bank building lobby needed a transformation to reflect the infusion of tech company tenants and millennial workforce. MATERIALS MATTER A highlight of the design, the colorful felt-covered ban- quettes, soften, modernize and add a playfulness to the once formal space. Clean and modern furniture and finishes integrate with the existing design features that were not being replaced, such as the marble-clad walls. DUAL-FUNCTION LIGHTING Lobbies often have voluminous ceilings. A dramatic light fixture can help cut into the volume of the space and become an iconic part of the building design. The sculp- tural lighting feature in the U.S. Bank building lobby is visible from the exterior and, at night, creates a dramatic effect for passersby.