JoomGallery is not installed.

{joomplu:1083}

Photography By Tim Williams

Most of us spend so much time at work that we wish it could feel like home. Well, if you’re Jan Burman and the other partners at The Engel Burman Group, you just might be able to achieve that goal.
The Long Island real estate developers saw surprising potential in an unused industrial space that was part of a historic manufacturing complex they own. They took a leap of faith, redesigning it as their own office, and ended up with something with a hip and urban feel that stands out on Long Island, while also providing the comforts and livability of a home environment.

The group brought in Locust Valley architect Brian Shore, who has spoken with Boulevard magazine about his work on elegant, manor-style residential spaces. He talked about rethinking those homes to accommodate the modern lifestyle while keeping with a traditional look and feel.
This time, Shore was excited to speak about the chance to work in the commercial space realm. And while rebirthing the heating facility of a factory complex is a jump from creating a North Shore waterfront estate, the concept is the same. You find the key elements that stand out and define a space, then you work with that as your focus and build on the feel it naturally creates.
In this case, the venue was a central heating plant with a chimney that acted as the boiler room for the old complex of buildings. The whole Garden City site, which Engel Burman bought about 15 years ago, was originally one of the first Curtiss-Wright manufacturing facilities in the United States. (The Wright brothers and Glenn Curtiss were pioneers in the field of aeronautics. The corporation Curtiss-Wright that stemmed from their work provided much of the foundation for modern flight and became a major part of the quickly growing aeronautics and defense industries.)
The group had already renovated other buildings in the historic complex, developing warehouses and offices. This heating facility building had gone out of use, as all these units had their own heat and A/C. So they began to look at what had become nothing more than a storage unit and think, What could be done here? Burman’s two sons had recently joined him in the business and the group needed more room, so they decided this would be a great two-story office space.
Shore was excited when they approached him with this idea. “How many opportunities do you get like this?” he said. “I told them, ‘Let’s do something unique to Long Island, since this is a really unique space in itself.  ’ The industrial esthetic I could see under the surface spoke something very urban to me. So I felt that rather than just making some standard office, let’s work with these elements - not just cover it all up.”
Shore said this industrial vibe made him think of a hip, downtown feel. Features such as exposed brick, exposed ducts and steel, barn doors and a roof deck could turn into something that was really in a class of its own on Long Island.
 So, the sandblasting began. And then a big cleanup.
Once the space was back to a blank slate, a mezzanine was built with open staircases that kept the exposed steel look and added steel railings. “We really tried to keep the palate of the original structure,” Shore said. “We wanted the original materials and structure to come through.”
Shore had all the ductwork exposed to highlight the industrial nature of the place, along with any part of the original structure that added an interesting flair, like wire and glass, brick and steel, and big skylights. There are factory-style lighting fixtures coming off the ducts and big exposed metal frames supporting the wood ceiling.
Burman agreed with the approach and lauded the vision as it came to fruition. “Anyone could cover this place up with sheet rock and modern lighting,” he said. “But Brian really took the opportunity to highlight those old elements. And what he had to add, he made it fit with that look.”
{joomplu:1086}Now, standing at the main reception desk, you can still see the original standpipe that was the sprinkler system. If you look up, you’ll still see the wood ceiling. There are also the barn doors, all creating a one-of-a-kind work environment.
From there, Burman got inspired by the idea of running with the native character of the place. He had a conference room table made, for instance, that is an actual airplane wing. There is a propeller in the office too. He also added contemporary art that fueled the urban vibe.
 Now, he said, “Everyone flips out when they walk in here. They can’t believe it. They love the architecture and love being in this bright, airy office that functions so well.”
The end result is something that, for all the industrial elements, adds up to a place where you really want to hang out. The chic and strategic use of color, the urbane lighting and furniture and the well-chosen art all comprise a city loft-type luxuriousness that is very inviting. You can as easily picture holding a meeting, doing inspired work, or hosting a trendy cocktail party here. 
“That was the spirit of this,” said Shore. “We wanted something fun … a space you could really enjoy but to also use the industrial materials with sophistication, in a way that commands respect as you walk in to this big, unusual open space.” Burman added, “This was meant to be an extension of our homes. We spend as much time here as at home. Brian is such an unbelievable architect that he was able to make this happen.”
Comfortable through coolness and hip, via a sophisticated use of industrial elements and urban chic, this Garden City office is a truly distinctive concept. The powerful vision of this project is a fitting tribute to a historic local site.   

{joomplu:1077}{joomplu:1078}{joomplu:1080}{joomplu:1081}{joomplu:1082}{joomplu:1084}{joomplu:1085}