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DOWNTOWN LOBBY RECONFIGURATION 
Furnishing and Flow


DOWNTOWN 
BOSTON, MA
SCOPE:   Lobby refresh including furniture reconfiguration, FF&E specification, lighting redesign, and accessory curation to improve flow, function, and street presence.
ROLE:  Interior Designer /
               Owner’s Representative
  • Spatial Planning
  • Furniture and Accessory Selection
  • Lighting Design
  • FF&E Specification
  • 3D Modeling
  • Client Presentations
  • Project Management


This lobby refresh was driven by a clear functional gap: a historic Downtown Boston office building with strong architectural bones but a seemingly vacant, underutilized entry experience. Working directly with the building's board of directors as the owner's representative, the design brief balanced competing priorities — creating a polished first impression visible from the street while addressing practical needs like a dedicated package drop zone and a seating solution that discourages loitering without feeling unwelcoming.

The existing layout centered on an ornate pedestal table placed haphazardly in the space beside the door and offered no real utility. It was replaced with a low-profile console along the diagonal wall, freeing the floor plan and establishing a clear path from entry to elevator. A tufted bench with a brass frame provides a minimal perch — intentionally firm — for building occupants waiting for rideshares.
 Greenery was a key client ask, both to soften the space and to read as inviting from the sidewalk. Tall sculptural planters and lush botanicals (locally procured) were distributed throughout to give each zone of the lobby its own sense of life and boundary — creating visual rhythm across the floor plan without disrupting circulation. The existing wall sconces and chandelier remained, while a new statement pendant and updated art selections were proposed to modernize the ceiling plane and introduce an urban, Boston-informed aesthetic.

A phased approach was developed with the board — phase one encompassed all furniture placement, console specification, and botanical installations. Phase two, currently rendered and awaiting board approval, proposes replacing the existing pendant and sconces, painting the street-facing radiator to match the window wall for a cleaner streetscape view, relocating the building directory to the wall directly adjacent to the elevators for clearer wayfinding, and introducing new urban-inspired wall art to animate the space.


EXISTING CONDITIONS

View Towards Elevator
View Towards Street - ornate center table and artificial plant with no defined package drop or seating zone.



COMPLETED PROJECT (PHASE 1)
View Towards Elevator - new console, bench, and planters in place.
View Towards Street


DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

View Towards Elevator (Render) - shown with new proposed lighting and relocation of building directory. 
View Towards Street (Render) - shown with new proposed lighting and artwork. 
Final Floor Plan - New layout with console and planters located on diagonal wall upon entry and bench and plater located in corner space previously occupied by ornate table. 


MATERIALS AND FINISHES

Phase 1

Phase 2


Updated 13.04.28