Location: Paramus, New Jersey
The project is a complete renovation of a free-standing, 1,080-sf car rental facility. The purpose was to design a new prototype image to reflect a contemporary customer environment to include updated architectural, interior design, and graphic design components for the owner’s freestanding building type.
The design emphasizes a welcoming and contemporary customer service experience. Building materials and colors were inspired by the modern automobile: leather perforated-bench seating, a travel center clad in carbon fiber, walnut and maple warm wood tones, and metal accents weave throughout the building interior and exterior. A key interior element is the new feature wall design incorporating a LED-backlit glass signature yellow logo and graphic wall emphasizing the company brand.
A key piece of the prototype was a new customer service pod for rental transactions. The pod features an innovative use of space for housing the multitude of required equipment while maintaining strict ergonomic and barrier-free design criteria. Drum-style light fixtures accent the pod and provide task lighting.
It was imperative that the building interior reads to the exterior and the feature yellow logo wall branding is visible from the busy roadway just yards away. The new metal panel cladding updates the exterior and transforms this tiny understated building into a bold and identifiable business architectural statement for the owner, day and night.
The long-range project impact is to keep the owner at the forefront of the competitive car rental business. The customer service base has more than doubled since this renovated building opened, which illustrates the positive impact of the new design and significantly benefits the owner.
The schedule necessitated the site remain open for business during construction, which was complicated by extreme weather conditions. Construction documents were completed in May 2010. Project construction started in September 2010 and was completed for occupancy in February 2011.
http://www.ftch.com/
645 Cherry
