public space/retail

Ronnette Riley Architect

350 Fifth Avenue #7401, New York, NY 10118

T: 212-594-4015 www.ronnetteriley.com


Firm Profile Founded in 1987, Ronnette Riley Architect has earned an enviable reputation among large and small clients for the vigor of its architectural and design work and the rigor of its follow-through.

The firm has consistently excelled with projects ranging from retail spaces to corporate environments, from private residences to large institutional facilities, from master plans to space programming.

The quality of the firm’s work is reflected in the vitality of its portfolio as well as its many awards, not to mention the clients who’ve returned again and again or referred Ronnette Riley Architect to their friends and colleagues.

THE WESTIN OTTAWA HOTELOntario, Canada

Ronnette Riley Architect (RRA) was responsible for a five phase design, renovation and 4th floor addition for the Westin Ottawa Hotel. RRA transformed the massive interior spaces into welcoming centers of activity by reconfiguring the hotel’s main lobby, lobby bar, res-taurant and porte-cochere. RRA’s design required removal of a portion of the second floor to create a double story storefront with marble and glass entrance that looks in on an enlarged three-story atrium. A 14 ft. wide 36 ft. tall fireplace made from backlit alabaster and sculpted mahogany hangs from the third floor ceiling masking a four level escalator. A new stair to the lower level was created and a laundry facility was converted into a con-ference center. Banquet facilities on the 4th floor were added onto the building's setback. Three custom crystal chandeliers and carpeting were designed by RRA for the lobby to enhance the atmosphere.


RECOGNITION

■■ Society of American Registered Architects, CA Council Design Award

■■ Society of American Registered Architects, National Design Award

BRONX HALL OF JUSTICEBronx, NY

The 750,000 sf Bronx County Hall of Justice located on a three block site at East 161st Street near Grand Concourse Boulevard, is part of the New York City Master Plan for New York’s Court designed by Raphael Vinoly/DMJM Architects. The program consists of sev-enty-two elements for Supreme and Criminal Court agencies, providing offices, courts, and libraries for a range of judicial and administrative departments, and underground parking facilities for four hundred cars. The main facility houses 47 courtrooms for the Supreme Criminal Court and judges’ suites, a 645-seat jury assembly area, Bronx District Attorney offices, a law library, court facility offices for the NYPD, contract agencies and the Department of Probation, Legal Aid, Juvenile Justice and Corrections.

The civic plaza that covers an underground parking structure is landscaped and occupied by the Jury Assembly Hall. The plaza and Jury Assembly Hall will be used during off hours for community and recreational activities such as neighborhood meetings and functions.

Ronnette Riley Architect’s responsibilities included space planning for the various program requirements, and specifying and designing furniture for these spaces. The courthouse break from the traditional: the building is sleek and contemporary with glass curtain walls, terrazzo tile floors, metal details, perforated metal ceiling, and natural toned beech veneer. Accordingly the interior, furnishings, mill work, and custom furniture are modern, with tapered forms, polished chrome detailing, and natural wood finishes. The RRA designed custom furniture including courtroom benches, conference tables, and library furniture.

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIASpecial Collections Library, Charlottesville, VA

RRA designed the interiors for the new Jeffersonian style 62,000 sf library designed by Hartman Cox Architects. The program included a 226 person auditorium, reading rooms, studies, seminar and conference rooms, an academic research and conservation center and exhibit spaces including the Declaration of Independence Room housing Jefferson’s papers and the Treasure Room. The globe-shaped pendant lighting fixture that dominates the elliptical stairwell is also specially designed to allude to the library as a historical center of knowledge and discovery. The interior finishes, custom light fixtures, furniture and sig-nage were all designed and selected to respect the rich traditional context and weight of the historical documents but with modern comfort and simplicity in mind.


RECOGNITIONS

■■ Society of American Registered Architects, NY Council Design Award and CA Council Design Award

■■ Shutze Awards , Excellence in Traditional Design

AMERICAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LEAGUEWashington D.C.

The American Symphony Orchestra League, a non-profit trade organization, relocated to Washington D.C. and needed to combine administration, fund-raising and musical func-tions into one 10,000 sf space. RRA created a flexible interior that is easily customized for different uses. Notably, the walls of the three conference rooms are constructed of frame-less glass with a special film that varies in opacity dependent on the vantage point of the viewer. As visitors walk down the hall, the glass turns from transparent to opaque and cre-ates adjoining yet private meeting rooms. The ASOL occasionally uses the conference room for concerts and required a space that could accommodate both of these activities. We custom designed a maple conference table that could seat 30 people and also break down into smaller sections to open the space for concert events.


RECOGNITIONS

■■ Society of American Registered Architects/Professional Design Award, NY Council Award of Honor

SHATTUCK HAMMOND PARTNERSNew York, NY

Shattuck Hammond Partners, Ltd., a private investment banking firm, moved into a new 14,000 sf office space in Rockefeller Center. RRA combined architectural forms with unique materials such as Macore Pomele, Sepele and cherry wood panels with elm burl and stainless steel accents to create a space that was sophisticated and welcoming. Curved walls in encaustic plaster, finely detailed columns, custom designed furniture and lighting were seamlessly integrated into the final solution and reflected the unique aesthetic of our client.


RECOGNITION

■■ Society of American Registered Architects, NY Council Design Award

BRONSKY DENTAL OFFICENew York, NY

RRA was commissioned to provide a contemporary and sleek design for an orthodontist on Park Avenue. The new 2,000 sf office is based on the connection of two major patient areas by a corridor that feeds all of the semi-private spaces.

The floor finish and lighting change as one moves from the waiting and administrative areas to the technical areas of the office. An "L" shaped corridor snakes past the private patient rooms, the laboratory, and the X-ray Room. The south end of the corridor leads to the open patient area with five patient chairs. Between the four chairs on the south wall are stainless steel columns supporting acrylic panels. Similar to the wall mounted panel in the waiting area, the panels are illuminated by colored spotlights that shine down from the ceil-ing above.

THE APPLE SOHO STORENew York, NY

In 2001, following its “think different” maxim, Apple Computer transformed a former post office in New York’s Soho area into the first of its retail stores, in the process creating a prototype for other Apple Stores around the world as well as new standards for retail design.

The 18,000 sf interior is inviting, with its use of custom-designed glass features – a 15-foot high staircase, a bridge and a 70-foot long skylight – immediately echoing the iconic design sensibility of Apple and Macintosh products.

RRA was a member of the collaborative design group consisting of Steve Jobs, The Apple Team and Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. The Apple Store has garnered numerous accolades, including special recognition by The American Institute of Architects and Business Week for Design Excellence.


RECOGNITIONS

■■ Business Week/Architectural Record Award

■■ AIA NY City and NY State Design Award

■■ AIA NY State Excellence in Design Award

■■ The Chicago Athenaeum American Award

■■ Society of American Registered Architects NY Council Design Award

■■ Contract Interiors Award

■■ Visual Merchandising + Store Design, New York Store of the Year

■■ 30 other design awards

■■ Featured in numerous books, magazines, newspa-pers worldwide

TRACY REESENew York, NY

Ronnette Riley Architect transformed a 2,200 sf space in the Meatpacking district to mimic the sweeping curves of a woman’s body to reflect the soft feminine lines of Tracy Reese's signature design style. New curved walls, shaped like an hourglass visually divide the space into two areas, creating separate display areas with a new custom fuchsia resin cash wrap in between. Custom stainless steel display rods and fixtures are also curved to fit along the perimeter. Cove lighting and chandeliers further accentuate the space and create flowing lines in ambient light while curved track lighting focuses on the product. Tracy Reese’s signature fuchsia color displayed in prominent places such as the canopy, cash wrap and the back wall, stand out against white washed oak floors, white walls, fix-tures and lacquered wood shelving displays.


RECOGNITIONS

■■ National Society of American Registered Architects Design Award

■■ Society of American Registered Architects NY Council & CA Council Design Award

■■ Featured in Vogue, Women’s Wear Daily, The New York Times, Elle Decor, New York Magazine, and Time Out New York

JOHN BARRETT SALONNew York, NY

RRA oversaw construction of this 9,000 sf salon above the executive floors at Bergdorf Goodman’s. Our team assembled a set of construction drawings and sourced the materi-als necessary to implement London based designer David Collin’s interiors. We also were able to expand and rearrange the makeup and pedicure areas and bathrooms so the salon could accommodate for a rapidly expanding client base.

RESTORATION HARDWAREBroadway, New York, NYRRA joined with Seaton Wilson Architects to restore the historic space in of Griffith Thomas’ Mortimer Building - one of the first commercial structures in the “Ladies Mile” Shopping district of Manhattan. RRA’s team designed the 16,408 interior retail space to conform to Restoration Hardware’s design standards while maintaining the original archi-tectural integrity of the historic building. To allow access to the additional retail space in the cellar, we designed a grand staircase that opens up the ground floor and provides a focal point.

Soho, New York, NYFor the second Restoration Hardware Store, RRA’s scope included restoring the origi-nal architectural details while updating and revitalizing the interiors. Across three stories, 16,000 sf breaks into 10,000 sf of merchandising space and 6,000 sf of stock.


RECOGNITIONS

■■ Society of American Registered Architects, NY Council Design Award

■■ Featured in The New York Times.

DAVIS WARSHOW SHOWROOMNew York, NY

Davis + Warshow, New York’s oldest and largest plumbing fixture distributor, hired Ronnette Riley Architect to design a 7,220 sf showroom and event space to became their flagship store. They were looking for a gallery feel, focusing not on brand recognition, as is the industry standard, but on the fixtures themselves. Most aspects of the showroom are adjustable and interchangeable in order to meet the needs of the changing fixtures and to allow for the flexibility needed to accommodate various size groups for events.

The fixtures are presented without the use of running water but its presence in the show-room was essential. RRA enlisted subtle hints of movement and flowing materials to create the illusion of water. With twenty-one windows on two walls, the focus of the showroom is inward on the walnut pod displays that sit clustered on the original wood floors under exposed oval ductwork. The entry to the showroom features a sienna rubber mat that slides up and over the reception desk, it then peels off the main walk into a curvy bench with magazine shelf, while the other end of the rubber mat creates a waterfall illusion by ascending up to the ceiling covered with resin blocks.


RECOGNITIONS

■■ Society of American Registered Architects, CA Council Design Award

■■ Best of Year, Project Design in Interior Design

■■ Featured in The New York Times

WELLINGTONNew York, NY

In collaboration with Rockwell Group, RRA was commissioned to update and rehabilitate the Wellington building in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. One of the main features of the building is the retail plaza on the 3rd Avenue façade, which was reconfigured and opened up by removing four vent towers from the garage below. The ductwork was relocated from below and the grille moved to the far façade making the plaza better utilized. In the lobby a nautical theme of teak and nickel slat walls, forms a bench and the concierge desk. A new glass and stainless steel canopy at the residential entry and over the retail stone-fronts streamlined the facades. New custom stainless steel and back-lit glass further update the building’s exterior. New stone cladding and frameless stone-fronts continue the mod-ernization, accentuating the cast concrete ornamentation on the building’s facades. New paving and custom stone planters carry the nautical theme throughout the building prop-erty. The basement was reconfigured to create a residence center with gym, kids’ play area, meeting rooms, restrooms and pantry. The 28 residential floor corridors were reno-vated with new teak veneer doors and metal frames, new stainless steel elevator doors, teak and nickel insert paneling, new carpet and lighting throughout.


BEFORE

WESTMINSTERNew York, NY

RRA was hired in collaboration with the Rockwell Group, to update The Westminster, a 178-unit luxury rental building on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The building’s main features include 2 exterior spaces on the ground floor which were under-utilized and badly maintained. A long entry corridor with a steep stair to the central lobby did not meet the needs of disabled tenants. The client sought to resolve these issues, and create a unified, modern aesthetic. A prominent entry was created alongside a new sculpture garden and custom glass feature wall, leading to a sinuous wood-paneled reception wall. The build-ing’s 20 residential floors were designed with wood and bronze columns, custom carpet, wall covering and new lighting.


AWARDS AND PUBLICATIONS

The Firm

General

Awards: Fellow of the American Institute of ArchitectureHarry B. Rutkins Award, New York Chapter AIA AREW/ Real Estate Weekly: Women Real Estate Leaders for the 21st Century

Books: Cookbook - Delicious By Design, City Secrets New York CityNew York Home Book. New York: The Ashley Group Kahn, Robert, ed. City Secrets New York City. New York: The Little Bookroom

Magazines: Architectural Record. Interiors. Interior Design Show Daily. Oculus.Building Stone Magazine. Tile & Decorative Surfaces. Contract Design. Crain’s New York Business. Nikkei Woman. Iowa Architect. Residential Architect. Pantheon (Delft, Netherlands). View Magazine (Venice, Italy).

Newspapers: The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Newsday, Business Week, Architectural Record,Crain's New York Business, The Washington Times, The Dallas Morning News, Orlando Sentinel, New York Construction News, Career Confidential, Real Estate Weekly, The Sunday Press (Ireland), SARA Snippets, Grid. New York Resident, New Haven Register, East Hampton Star, Southhampton Press, Tulsa Work, Residential Architect, Iowa Architect, Building Stone Magazine, Contract Design, Eastern Oklahoma AIA Architect, Old House Journal, Oculus, Empire State Tribune

Multimedia

Films: Discovery Channel: “The Empire State Building.”TV: ABC: “Peter Jennings Special Report.” CNN: “It’s a Small World.”

CBS Sunday Morning: “It’s a Small World.”Radio: Wall Street Journal: “Little Buildings.” WBAI: “We Build This City.”

National Public Radio, Tulsa, OKWeb: DesignArchitecture.com

ArchNews.com

Exhibits

Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park, “Monumental Miniatures”, Saint Louis, MO AIA New York Chapter, “Made in New York”, New York, NY A Celebration of Work by Women, New York, NY The Best of New York AIA Interiors in the 90’s White House Christmas Tree Ornament Hung on Tree in the Blue Room. Home as Theatre. Creative Response. Home for Contemporary Theatre and Art. It’s a Small World. Souvenir Buildings. Empire State Building Lobby. New New York 3: Multiples: Small Civic Works. “Paws For Design” Canine Couture and Doggie Decor

Residential

East Side Residence, New York, NYAwards: IIDA Lester Dundes Award for Residential Design

National Society of American Registered Architects Design Award New York Home Book Design Excellence Award Society of American Registered Architects, NY Council Design Award Sub-Zero’s Kitchen Design Contest, North America Territory Winner

Books: New York Minimalism, Great American Kitchens 2: The Fine Art of Kitchen Design.Magazines: Remodeling, Array, and The Voice.

Black Residence, New York, NYAwards: Society of American Registered Architects, NY Council Design Award

Sub-Zero & Wolf Kitchen Design Contest, Regional Territory WinnerMagazines: Kitchen featured in Subzero Advertising campaign

Williams/Henehan Residence, New York, NYAwards: Society of American Registered Architects, NY Council Design AwardMagazines: American HomeStyle, HomeStyle Kitchen and Bath, and Old House Journal.

Idem. “Sink Central,” HomeStyle Kitchen and Bath Murray, Carolyn. “Shedding New Light on Old Kitchens,” Old House Journal

Zanger Residence, New York, NYAwards: Qualified Remodeler Magazine Design Award,

New York Home Book Design Excellence Award for FireplaceMagazines: Sleek and Functional, New York Living, and Contemporary Stone Design.

Westchester Marble and Granite (Advertisement), Contemporary Stone Design “A Stone Showcase,” Contemporary Stone Design

Palladino Residence, New York, NYBooks: The Comfortable Home. For Your Home, Bedrooms.

Havemeyer Residence, New York

Awards: National Society of American Registered Architects Design AwardSociety of American Registered Architects, NY Council Design Awards

Magazines: Metropolis.

Holmes/Lipton Residence, New York

Awards: Qualified Remodeler Master Design Award


Carey Residence, New York

Magazines: Professional Builder & Remodeler

McGlone Residence, New York

Books: Awards Journal, AIA NY Chapter.Magazines: Sound & Image.

Hoffman Residence, New York

Books: Awards Journal, AIA NY Chapter.

Wilson Residence, New York

Awards: Qualified Remodeler Master Design AwardNY Home Book Design Excellence Award for Kitchen Design Construction

Magazines: Sound & Vision.Newspapers: The New York Times.

Retail Stores and Restaurants

Apple Store, New York, NY

Awards: Society of Environmental Graphic Design Merit AwardAIA NY City Merit Award for Architecture Business Week/Architectural Record Award AIA NY State Excellence in Design Award AIA San Francisco Award AIA Pittsburgh Silver Medal for Architectural Design AIA Pittsburgh Citation of Merit for Architectural Detailing The Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award National Society of American Registered Architects Design Award Society of American Registered Architects NY Council Design Award Contract Interiors Award, Retail NASFM Award of Special Merit for Outstanding Store Fixture NASFM Grand Prize for New or Remodeled Hardline Specialty Store Gold Award in Industrial Design Excellence, The Idea Awards Visual Merchandising and Store Design New or Remodeled Hardline Specialty Visual Merchandising + Store Design, New York Store of the Year

Books: Cuito, Aurora. New York Minimalism. New York: Harper Collins.Magazines: Architectural Record, Time Out New York, Visual Merchandising & Store Design,

Glass Magazine, Metropolitan Home, Retail Traffi, SEGDdesign, and OcculusNewspapers:The New York Times

Coca-Cola Fifth Avenue, New York, NY

Awards: NY State Association of Architects, AIA Design Awards, Honorable MentionSociety of American Registered Architects, NY Council Design Award

Books: Stores, Retail Display and Design; World Space DesignMagazines: Stores, Retail Display and Design; Blueprints, The Journal of the National

Building Museum; Design & Build New York; World Space Design; Oculus Visual Merchandising & Store Design, Architectural Record Lighting; Journey Pronto US Retail & Trend Monitor; Designer's Journal; Interiors; Display & Design Ideas.

Newspapers:The New York Times, The New York Post, The Daily News, Real Estate Weekly,and Gannett Suburban Newspapers

Davis & Warshow Showroom, New York, NY

Awards: Society of American Registered Architects, CA Council Design AwardMagazine: Interior DesignNewspapers:The New York Times


Tracy Reese, New York, NY

Awards: National Society of American Registered Architects Design AwardSociety of American Registered Architects, CA Council Design Award Society of American Registered Architects, NY Council Design Award

Magazines: Contract lighting, Factio-Magazine, Vogue; Women’s Wear Daily, US Weekly,Life and Style, Elle Decor, WGSN, New York Magazine, Time Out

Newspapers: The New York Times.

Columbus Circle Wines, New York, NY

Awards: National Society of American Registered Architects Design Award

Restoration Hardware, New York, NY

Awards: Society of American Registered Architects, NY Council Design AwardNewspapers: The New York Times.

Colours by Alexander Julian, Nationwide

Magazines: Display & Design Ideas; Store Planning & Design Review

New Balance North Jersey, Hackensack, NJ

Awards: Society of American Registered Architects, NY Council Design Award

Yves Saint Laurent Boutiques, New York, NY

Awards: Excellence in Storefront Design Award for the Yves Saint Laurent of America Boutiques,Friends of the Upper East Side Historic District

Magazines: Store Planning & Design ReviewNewspapers: Women's Wear Daily

The Emerald Planet, New York, NY

Awards: National Society of American Registered Architects Design AwardNew York State Association of Architects, AIA Design Awards International Interior Design Association IIDA Design Award Society of American Registered Architects, NY Council Design Award ISP/VM & SD Store Interiors Design Award - Restaurant Category

Magazines: Retail Reporting Corp., Interior Design, New York Magazine, Crain’s New York Business, AIA News, Visual Merchandising & Store Design, Restaurants USA, Contract Design,Shopping Center World, Restaurants USA, and Contract Design

New World Coffee, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania

Awards: 525 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY:Society of American Registered Architects, NY Council Design Award Riverside Square Mall, Hackensack, NJ: Society of American Registered Architects, NY Council Design Award NASFM’s 25th Annual Retail Design Award SADI Design Award for New Specialty Store Design New York Society of Architects, Design Award ISP/VM&SD Store Interiors Design Award 449 Sixth Avenue, New York, NY: National Society of American Registered Architects Design Award ISP/VM&SD Store Interior Design Award Retail Store of the Year Design Award

Books: Great Store Design. Great Store Design 2. Interior DesignMagazines: Interiors, Urban Land, Oculus, Retail Store Image, Retail Image & Graphic Identity,

Visual Merchandising and Store Design, Shopping Center World, Food Arts Magazine, Chain Store Age Executive, and Food Retail Design & Display.

Newspapers:The New York Times and Women’s Wear Daily.

Madison Avenue’s Better Baker, New York, NY

Magazines: New York Magazine.

Westin Ottawa Hotel

Awards: Society of American Registered Architects, CA Design AwardSociety of American Registered Architects, National Design Award


Institutional and Commercial

UVA Special Collection Library

Awards: Society of American Registered Architects, NY Council Design Award Society of American Registered Architects, CA Council Design Award Shutze Awards, Excellence in Traditional Design

PS 149 Library, New York, NY

Awards: National Society of American Registered Architects Design AwardSociety of American Registered Architects, CA Council Design Award Magazine: Architecture, American Libraries, Contract, and School Library Journal.

Newspaper: The New York TimesExhibit: Architectural League: New New York, 3: Multiples: Small Civic Works

Walker Zanger Showroom, New York, NY


Times Square Visitors Center

Awards: Society of American Registered Architects, NY Council Design AwardMagazines: New York Magazine, Great Store Design, Food Retail Design & Display,

Renovation Style, and Oculus.Newspapers: The New York Times, New York Post, Daily News, USA Today

The Record Sunday Edition.

Shattuck Hammond Partners, Rockefeller Center, New York, NY

Awards: Society of American Registered Architects Design Award

American Symphony Orchestra League, New York, NY


Thank You!

We look forward hearing from you.

public space/retail

Documents

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