Abbey Group plans $5 million Lafayette City Center lobby renovation; Project team includes Suffolk, Jones Lang LaSalle and ADD Inc

The Abbey Group plans to begin a complete $5 million renovation of the lobby of Lafayette City Center, located at 2 Avenue de Lafayette. Construction on the six-story 615,000 s/f office and retail complex will begin in June with the project set to be completed in the fall. Construction will be managed by Suffolk Construction. The new lobby design, from architects ADD Inc, will feature a glass façade and staircase that will bring natural light into the one and half story vestibule. Revolving doors have been consolidated at the midpoint of the facade for improved circulation, while visitors may choose between either the glass stairs or an escalator to reach the main lobby level. Both ascend alongside a monolithic, white chiseled marble wall that runs throughout the entire length of the lobby. The defining axis of the wall is reinforced in the ceiling by sixty, 8 foot long "light blades". Lafayette City Center's new lobby will use modern materials, like Terrazo flooring, and contemporary furniture in the lounge areas to draw people into the space. A 24-hour concierge will be placed in a new, centrally-located white resin security desk. The Abbey Group is updating the lobby at Lafayette to reflect the changes that are taking place in the downtown area and to meet the needs of the expanded list of prospective companies that are looking to make downtown their home. With the area's existing transportation infrastructure, expanded concentration of residential living options and revitalized retail, dining and entertainment venues, the downtown area has already attracted many new types of tenants coming from technology and innovation sectors. The renovation at LCC will make the property an ideal option for these types of companies. Current tenants of Lafayette City Center include State Street Bank and Partners Healthcare. "Our vision is for this building to be a true city center in every sense of the word," said David Epstein, president of the Abbey Group. "Through the Lafayette City Center's lobby renovation, we want to appeal to the exciting and diverse businesses in Boston that are now considering the Financial District as a location for their workspace." "There is an exciting vitality downtown and the major lobby renovation at LCC captures it," said Bill Barack, managing director of Jones Lang LaSalle, the exclusive leasing agent for the office space at Lafayette City Center. "We are seeing significant interest from innovation-oriented companies that draw from a workforce that wants to be in the city."