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DESIGNWORKS 2018
Design Detail/Other – Winner
101 N. Tryon – Ceiling Installation
Charlotte, NC
Wagner Murray
Gina Falba, Sarah Williams, Dave Wagner
As new property owners sought to reposition this building in the uptown market, our design team was charged with developing a renovation plan that would improve public perception. We approached this challenge with the mission of creatively integrating artistic features, to elevate the environment and evoke inspired responses from current and future building tenants.
Upon entering the new lobby, visitors are captivated by the fluid movement of suspended and illuminated acrylic panels. The colorful meandering lines of blue, green, and orange lead you from the main entry, weaving through the space to the other side of the lobby. More than 400 individual acrylic panels make up this stunning installation, with each panel hung parallel to the last. By utilizing this amount of organic repetition, the design implements a clear sense of harmony and cohesiveness.
In a collaborative effort between our designers and the acrylic panel manufacturer, custom hardware was developed to meet the design intent. Standard product hardware typically requires a cable suspension at both top and bottom of a panel for stability. The adapted hardware allows for a single cable suspension at the top, fabricated with internal mechanisms to prevent sway and ensure the panel’s parallel layout is maintained. LED pendant lights in a shape mimicking the colored acrylic, allows lighting to be seamlessly integrated. Playful colors and light layer together for a unique experience from all angles of the lobby. Visible from the street outside, this ceiling feature has become a distinct icon representing the building’s striking transformation.
(Sarah Williams)
Judges Comments:
“Fits the category. Spectacular design and engineering. Simple, effective solution to update a tired lobby and tie in the design move at the building entry of the color-banded glass. Segmented in style, they lead you through the space and entice you to follow and discover what is beyond.”