News
MUFSON’S HIGH-END DEMAND
February 17, 2010
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| In this down market, who’d have thought financial firms would have reason to shop office design? On the contrary, private equity and investment banks are actually keeping architects at The Mufson Partnership busy. Principals Larry Mufson (above) and Ed Von Sover credit their busy blueprints to their reputation in the niche business, but also simply to lease expirations and a resurgence of startups. Larry maintains that even though clients are still asking for high-end designs and finishes, much of the ostentatiousness you may have seen two years ago is gone. |
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| Landlords are using the down market to upgrade public spaces, bathrooms, corridors, and empty floors. The shot above is from a client they couldn’t divulge, but Mufson is currently designing high-end pre-built space for property owners such as Murray Hill Properties and W&H Properties, including the latter’s Empire State Building and One Grand Central Place. Many of these pre-builts attract prestigious tenants with features you’d see in bigger spaces, like millwork, glass, and marble. Sustainable design is also in demand, says Ed; some properties are now concentrated on LEED certification in pre-builts. |
