About 20,000 square feet of office space on three floors of Sullivan Hall at St. John's University, Queens, N.Y., was renovated in 10 weeks. Faculty, administrative staff and students now are enjoying new offices and lounge space.
The existing facility was utilitarian, unimpressive classroom and office space, and typical of an older institution. Block walls, drop ceilings with fluorescent lighting, cubicles, and a lack of color and style characterized the space.
The architect reconfigured the offices and workstations to improve traffic flow and allow centralized filing. Removing corridor walls to bring natural light into interior areas opened up the entire space, and drop ceilings were removed to expose new oval ductwork for greater ceiling height.
New floor and wall finishes of bright, complementary colors brought cohesion to the redesigned space, giving the entire project a contemporary look.
New amenities include: a sub-basement storage area that was converted into a snack bar and lounge for students; an interior window wall that replaced cargo-style doors to give a sense of openness; and central air conditioning.
The architect for this project is Graft & Lewent Architects, Elmhurst, N.Y.
