1399 New York Avenue

OTJ approaches building repositioning from the perspective of an investor. Accordingly, from the outset of the project, our designers and architects partnered with the landlord and brokerage team to develop solutions that build on the asset’s strong urban presence while aligning strategy, budgetary considerations, and speed-to-market objectives. Our design modernizes essential amenities while introducing high impact, centrally located shared spaces that support both daily use and leasing activity.

Visitors and tenants are met upon arrival, with a reimagined lobby sequence that serves to define the repositioning’s aesthetic identity. Immediately above the lobby on the second floor, a conference center and lounge extend the ground floor program upward. Flexible meeting and gathering spaces are complemented by adjacent seating areas anchored by a backlit stone bar and concealed wet wall. As guests circulate, indirect lighting, specialty ceilings, and carefully curated material transitions converge in a layered experience that guides movement through the space. In addition, renovated elevator lobbies, corridors, and restrooms on the third and ninth floors transform circulation into moments of architectural interest.

The design vernacular, in turn, balances a restrained palette of stone surfaces, wood accents, soft neutral tones, and thoughtfully detailed millwork against the drama inherent to the interconnecting stair. Custom lighting elements and subtle material contrasts reinforce a cohesive building identity while expanding the boundaries of each tenant’s workplace to arrive at a distinctive environment positioned for long-term success.