Located in the heart of Times Square, the Candler Building needed a redesign to transform it from a historic landmark into a modern office destination — a quiet beacon amid the city’s constant buzz. The goal was to create a lobby experience that offered calm, warmth, and contrast to the chaos outside.

I helped reimagine the ground floor experience, introducing a café and a soft “pause space” where people could slow down before heading up to their offices. We shifted from the darker Soho-esque feel of the lobby to a white and bright look for the elevator lobby to welcome people into the offices above.

The challenge was honoring code to include two egress and how to create a cozy atmosphere with a high open ceiling. It became an exercise in balancing urban intensity with a sense of calm sophistication, turning the Candler into both a functional workspace and a moment of respite in the middle of Times Square.