The New York City-based owners of the Tishman Building are upgrading the property to help attract new tenants. The prominent Lafayette Square office building has 198,000 sq.ft. of space spread over 20 floors. Built in 1958 by Tishman Realty & Development, the Tishman served as the long-time headquarters for National Fuel until the utility company left downtown for Amherst in 2003.
Steve Carmina, AIA of Carmina Wood Morris PC details the capital improvements on yesterday's post by Steel:
Our firm has been retained by Solil Management (Lillian Goldman Family Trust is an affiliate), the building owner, to "update" the entry and lobby of the building. We have been very careful to respect the monumentality of the building and to create a final design which will meet our client's goal to attract new tenants to this corner of Main Street.
The main goal of the design is to modernize the lobby, with new lighting, a concierge and building directory. The entrance is being "pulled out" flush with the facade to help bring more natural light into the lobby while eliminating the "smokers paradise" under the soffit. The storefront will remain monumental and a revolving door will be part of this new design.
We are also adding a second floor conference center and dining area which will be an amenity to all tenants in the building. Solil is making a substantial investment in this building to attract new tenants. We are fortunate for that commitment.
Previous attempts to sell the building have been complicated by an unusual ground lease arrangement. The current owner gained control of the building in late-2008 and attempted to sell the land and building through a bidding process earlier this year. A deal with a potential buyer was rumored to be close, but never closed.
The entrance is cool but that reception area looks weak.