Designed by famed modernist architect Pietro Belluschi and completed in 1964, the Philadelphia headquarters of chemical manufacturer Rohm and Haas was added to the National Register of Historical places in 2007. As part of an effort to modernize the building’s interior in keeping with the original aesthetic, Structure Tone renovated nine floors of office space; removing most of the existing enclosed offices and replacing them with open work stations for greater penetration of light into interior spaces. On the executive floor, two sound-sealed conference rooms for use by the President and the CEO were constructed and fit-out with the latest global video teleconferencing capabilities. In addition, 23 general conference rooms were constructed throughout the building, and electrical power capabilities were updated on all floors to accommodate additional business equipment.
Structure Tone was also responsible for refurbishing and updating the lobby, which included the installation of GUNNABO turnstile security equipment. In conjunction with the lobby renovation our team created a plan for the plaza deck renovation, and updated two bathrooms to comply with ADA accessibility requirements. All Rohm and Haas’s own products (glues, polymers, gypsum and synthetic sheeting) were used in construction.
Uninterrupted Work
During construction the Rohm and Haas offices remained open and active, requiring our team to work around its employees. To ensure minimal interruption to their work flow while construction was being performed on their respective floors, Structure Tone developed a plan and coordinated the movement of employees to alternate floors and outside office space.
Deconstruction
Adjacent to the lobby, our team oversaw the complete deconstruction of an old First Fidelity bank to make way for the new employee "Haas Cafe." The bank deconstruction was a delicate operation that required the demounting and preservation of a 9' 6" x 2' 6" granite surface, which was re-used in the construction of the new lobby desk and saved for later use in the plaza area, as well as the deconstruction and removal of the 40-ton concrete and steel bank vault.
