FIAT HOUSE

Design Year: 2018
Type: Residential
Location: Fort Lee, NJ
Gross floor area: 432,792sf (parking garage incl.)
Number of units: 309
Project Status: Under Construction

Urban Revitalization

-Original building:

The original building, constructed in the 1980s, was an office space that had been abandoned for nearly a decade. This neglect led to numerous issues, including vandalism and unsanitary conditions. Broken windows and dark, damp areas made the building an eyesore that people avoided for almost 10 years. This project represents a dramatic transformation and modernization of the outdated office building from the 1980s.

The project features two towers connected by a podium building. Building A involves the renovation of the existing office structure, while Building B is a new construction following the demolition of a small lodge. The site also includes a five-story parking garage, both above and below ground. Portions of this existing garage have been converted into a cozy lobby and amenity spaces.

Our design retains the existing structure, avoiding the embodied carbon associated with new construction and utilizing 99 percent of the existing framework. This extensive reuse minimizes the environmental impact, reducing waste and whole-life carbon emissions.

 -Deep floor plates:

The original office building had a deep lease span, leaving much of the central space underutilized. One of our challenges was to make effective use of this area. We introduced rentable office and storage spaces exclusively for tenants. During the design phase, the pandemic heightened the need for remote work, making it essential to create workspaces within living areas. Consequently, we optimized the potentially wasted space by incorporating personal office areas for tenants in these intermediate zones on each floor. Additionally, we provided ample storage to address the lack of storage in the micro units.

Furthermore, the design brings natural light into the deep floor plates through full-height windows in the facades. This project exemplifies an inventive solution for converting an outdated office building into residential space.

 - Voids: Courtyard & Big Opening

This renovation project also includes the addition of a new tower and podium. The new tower was strategically positioned to respect the existing building and ensure it does not obstruct the view of the bridge. There is a courtyard in between the tower and loft type units. This courtyard will be a tranquil area, shielded from highway noise, offering a sense of neighborhood to the community of tenants. The courtyard is surrounded by the amenity floor on the third floor, connecting the Building A and B. This Creates the big opening toward the bridge.

  - Façade design

The old, dark, and dated façade was removed and replaced with new energy-efficient curtain walls. This change allows more natural sunlight to flood the living spaces and offers beautiful views. The double-story expression on the façade balances with the scale of the George Washington Bridge, while the vertical and horizontal linear patterns harmonize with the lattice steel structure of the bridge.