How Form And Function Guides A Lobby Re-Design

Apartment lobbies come in all sizes and shapes, but one thing most have in common are mailboxes. Jonathan Baron of Jonathan Baron Interiors shares how he modernized this vital area for one co-op, including the addition of a package storage cabinet. New postal code requirements for mailbox size and package storage lockers framed the redesign. Habitat’s Paula Chin interviews Jonathan Baron.

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Transcript

Paula Chin: Welcome to Problem Solved, a conversation about challenges facing New York Co-op and condo board directors. I'm Paula Chin of Habitat Magazine and with me today is Jonathan Baron of Jonathan Baron Interiors. I. One of the most controversial projects a co-op or condo can undertake is renovating its lobby.

There are a lot of opinions, and it's not just about appearances, but creating a smart space. For example, when it comes to mailboxes, the storage room, in other words, both form and function. Jonathan, you worked on a lobby redesign at an Upper East Side co-op, where all of these elements came into play. Can you tell us the story?

Jonathan Baron: Yes, so I met the co-op board at the CNYC Housing Expo. And we had a great conversation there and they invited me to their building to take a look at their goals and objectives for their lobby and hallways. And they had a concern and a challenge in their lobby in how to store the packages that were coming in and also changing the mailboxes.

And so I came up with a solution that met their goals and their needs. 

Paula Chin: Tell me about what sort of state the room was in, how large it was, and where the current mailboxes were and why they had to change them. 

Jonathan Baron: So the current mailboxes were in the same location where I put the new mailboxes, except I created a mailbox design that they were embedded into a cabinet that looked like it was original to the building because part of the cabinet served as a package storage cabinet. And the new mailboxes are deeper because United States Postal Code requirements require a type of mailbox that's 15 inches deep. So therefore they're deeper than the original mailboxes.

Paula Chin: How old is this building? In other words, when do the mailboxes date back to? 

Jonathan Baron: The building was built in the late seventies, early eighties, and it was actually the demolition of numerous townhouses that were there to create this new building. And it's a unique building because every apartment is a duplex.

Paula Chin: You said you put in the new mailboxes where the old ones were, but they are deeper. What did that involve? In other words, I presume there had to be some work to make room for these deeper boxes. 

Jonathan Baron: Yes. And the room or the space was created from inside. Space was created by coming deeper into the lobby with the custom made cabinet that was surrounding it.

Paula Chin: So the backside of these mailboxes is facing the lobby, is that correct? 

Jonathan Baron: The front side is facing the lobby, the side that has the little doors to the mailboxes, and the backside is facing inside of the cabinet. 

Paula Chin: That's my question. How did you make room for these deeper cabinets?

Jonathan Baron: I captured the room from the lobby space. I didn't have to involve the the architecture or the building, the wall at all. Because the room came from building out the cabinet, which looked original to the building. It was a custom made cabinet that was built into the wall.

Paula Chin: Now I understand you also had to work on, as you mentioned, expanding the package storage area. Can you tell us about what was there in the beginning and how that was changed? 

Jonathan Baron: There wasn't any package storage area except for laying the boxes and packages that came in onto the floor of the lobby.

And what I did was part of the design of the mailbox cabinet included a package storage cabinet that was concealed in there, so it all looked unified, and that was the concept that I brought to them. 

Paula Chin: So the package storage cabinet is located below or next to the mailboxes? 

Jonathan Baron: Right on the side of the mailboxes.

So it's a tall cabinet. If you could imagine like a broom closet size cabinet that the door opened and inside were multiple shelves to put smaller packages. But I also need to inform you that in the new United States Postal Code required mailboxes is the requirement of a a package locker. So for every 10 mailboxes, automatically by code, by requirement, comes a package storage locker.

So not only is each mailbox larger-- 15 inches by 17 and a half inches-- for every 10, there's a package storage cabinet that's approximately 18 inches high, 17 inches deep. We're all receiving packages today for small things such as nail polish or socks or slippers. And so the companies are sending it out by regular mail.

It's the least expensive way to deliver a package . 

Paula Chin: So this new postal code requirement, does that mean that every single building that doesn't have these new boxes, for example, a lot of co-ops or older buildings that were converted, does that mean that everyone has to upgrade their mailboxes? 

Jonathan Baron: No, everyone does not have to upgrade their mailboxes. There's no code or law in place that forces the co-op or condominium or rental building to upgrade their mailboxes. But if the building chooses to upgrade their mailboxes, then by United States Postal Code, they are required to put in the new size mailboxes. Although, they can be grandfathered in if there's absolutely no room to put in this new larger mailbox. This is monitored by the postmaster or mistress of their local post office. So if you change your mailboxes the post person would be alerted and then the post mistress or master of the post office would be aware of it. 

Paula Chin: That's very good news for, I think a lot of co-ops in particular. Jonathan, what were the other elements of the lobby redesign? 

Jonathan Baron: There was an existing bench and a mirror behind it and the board asked that be still a bench because they like to have informal community meetings there and sit on the bench.

And that also served as a place to put additional packages that did not fit into the package storage closet. The mirror was in place, and we reused the mirror to help expand the width or ambiance of the lobby. All of the lighting was changed to LED lighting to meet energy efficiency codes, and the flooring was changed to a new porcelain tile that met the slip resistance requirements that is monitored by the American standing and testing of materials.

So there was new wall covering, new paint, new signs, new lighting, a new bench. All of that was in the remodeling and refreshing of this particular lobby. 

Paula Chin: Lobby redesigns are notorious for evoking strong opinions and where there can be a lot of indecision or back and forth. Did that happen here or was the board and the residents, were they pretty united? I. 

Jonathan Baron: This board was very united. This board has been together for a long time. They happen to be a very bright group of people that are scientists and doctors and lawyers, and they have been together for a long time, so it really worked well.

There was a little conflict with the penthouse level. They did not care for the particular redecoration of their hallway, and that needed to be addressed carefully and sensitively. But generally they were together, and it is just common in the redecorating, remodeling, refreshing of the public spaces of apartment building, co-op and condominiums, that there is a lot of psychology involved in this and that needs to be addressed by the designer and the board of directors for how we manage ourselves with the public.

Paula Chin: Jonathan, this sounds like a very interesting project. Is there any takeaway or advice you offer to boards that are considering a lobby redesign? 

Jonathan Baron: Yes. First and foremost identify through a list form what are the goals and objectives. And these are usually collected by the board members because they know about their needs and the complaints and problems that have come up around this remodeling or capital improvement. Also, a survey to be released to the owners or shareholders in the building to collect their opinions. And in this careful process, a designer. Is able to provide different options that meet their functional, aesthetic and budgetary goals.

Paula Chin: Jonathan, that sounds like very good advice. Thank you so much for joining us today. 

Jonathan Baron: Thank you so much.