To retain existing and attract new tenants to 333 John Carlyle, KGD was enlisted to update the dark, dated lobby, including removal of the existing floor, wall, and ceiling finishes, lighting, and furnishings; installation of new doors, guard desks, and vestibules; modernization of elevator cabs; and repair, repainting, and reglazing of the exterior canopy.

The redesign eliminated fake columns and coffered ceilings to produce a simple shape that widened the lobby. Clean lines and forms were achieved with polished and textured Calacatta Gold marble on the feature walls and at the elevators; simple, unornamented stone floors; and floor-to-ceiling glass entry wall. Working around such constraints as existing mechanical and plumbing system retained to reduce waste, design elements were integrated that enhance the marble feature wall and create a luminous ceiling effect while still accommodating the need to provide fire alarm, smoke, sprinkler, and electrical devices that appear to be intentional and aligned with the design concept.