Norden Park

It's not easy to turn an anonymous-looking former defense research facility into a visually attractive building meant to catch the eye of motorists passing by on Interstate 95.

But the project team for Norden Park in Norwalk, Conn., pulled it off and turned the 650,000-sq.-ft. building, constructed in the 1960s for Northrup Grumman, into a contemporary, multi-tenant office park with a high-tech edge. The project cost $8.5 million.

"It's an amazing contrast to what was there before," said a jury member. "This project has a spectacular design. The team took 650,000 sq. ft. of industrial and made it into office space that looks innovative and smart."

As a first step in repositioning 150,000 sq. ft. of the existing building, the exterior façade was stripped away and replaced with layers of tinted glass, colored light and metal mesh to create a crisp first impression.

Open-mesh screen walls were added to bring drama and dimension to the exterior, while also providing a framework for future tenants to expand their identity with signage. The façade, custom screens and canopy were lit from above to below to create stunning transparencies.

Located on an 80-acre site between exits 16 and 17 on I-95, Norden Park has a lower level, first and second floors. It has 4,800 ft. of frontage on the highway and Metro North Rail Road.

Amenities include walking areas, three tennis courts, basketball court, softball diamond and running track.

The project team was faced with creating a high-tech look on a limited budget. The most dramatic design effects possible were made with common, low-tech, low-cost materials. For example, standard metal siding was combined with custom-made wing walls and canopies. The lobby was stripped to the original structure, revealing raw materials.

The concrete floor was polished and left bare. Ductwork was cleaned and left exposed, and plywood surfaces were finished to create a modern entry to the building. Large areas of glazing and low-e tinted glass replaced dated strip windows for a sleeker and more efficient building.

Another challenge involved transforming the single-tenant facility into one for multiple tenants. An architect worked on a design that increased the usefulness of the building.

The new lobby and amenities layout better managed the flow through the space. Video conferencing capabilities and a fitness center with café were added to attract new tenants. An elevator was installed that granted greater access to upper floors.

To create design interest in the lobby, a large opening was cut into the wall, creating a mezzanine level overlooking the entry area.

To make the facility more attractive, the project team did significant work on the exterior courtyard, which was overgrown and in poor condition. The overgrowth was trimmed to showcase the silhouettes of mature trees and enhance the beauty of the outdoor space.

Serene minimalist plantings and paths were incorporated, and indigenous and grassy meadow plants were used to create an environmentally friendly park. To further integrate the courtyard into the building and to optimize its utility, the second-floor windows were enlarged and full-height glass was used in the café and fitness center.