Schindler Elevator Corporation renovated its U.S. HQ to reflect its global minimalist brand.
Schindler Elevator Corporation renovated its U.S. HQ to reflect its global minimalist brand.
Project
Schindler Elevator Corp
Sector
Architecture
Location
Morristown, NJ
Year
2014
2014
Architect / Lighting Designer: ikon. 5 architects,
Princeton, NJ Designers: Joseph G. Tattoni, Benjamin Petrick, Michael Zereva, Renuska Papalexiou
Photography: James D'Addio
In renovating its U.S. Headquarters building, Schindler Elevator Corporation wanted to maintain a minimalist design aesthetic in keeping with its global brand- a Swiss company known for precision engineering that is a leader in providing innovative and energy efficient solutions for moveable transportation in buildings.
This interior renovation reimagines a once-ordinary 1970s office building into Schindler Elevator Corporation’s distinctive U.S. Headquarters—an environment defined by precision, clarity, and innovation. Central to the transformation is the integration of Gammalux linear lighting, which becomes both an architectural and experiential driver. These refined lines of light articulate space with striking precision, guiding movement, enhancing perspective, and reinforcing the minimal, engineered aesthetic rooted in Schindler’s Swiss heritage.
Inspired by contemporary artists who use light and color to explore motion, the design unfolds as a sequence of one-point perspective compositions—immersive “mise en scènes” that abstractly express displacement and flow. Gammalux linear light traces these spatial narratives, forming luminous arches and edges that heighten contrast against bold Swiss-red surfaces while maintaining a clean, unadorned atmosphere. The result is a dynamic interplay of light and geometry that elevates the workplace beyond function into experience.
Seamless, trim-less detailing further underscores the company’s precision engineering ethos, while program spaces are conceived as inhabitable installations—three-dimensional expressions of movement shaped and activated by light. Complementing this visual and spatial clarity, the renovation incorporates a photovoltaic roof array, enhanced envelope systems, and recyclable materials, creating a high-performance, sustainable workplace where light—both natural and artificial—defines the identity of the space.
Recessed luminaires in the corridors create 'framed' lines of light that convey the illusion of movement. In selecting the project for the award, the judges commented that these lines of light "give the feeling of looking down an elevator shaft".
We congratulate the design team at ikon. 5 architects on earning Architectural Lighting's 2014 Commendable Achievement award for this project.
Architect / Lighting Designer: ikon. 5 architects,
Princeton, NJ Designers: Joseph G. Tattoni, Benjamin Petrick, Michael Zereva, Renuska Papalexiou
Photography: James D'Addio
In renovating its U.S. Headquarters building, Schindler Elevator Corporation wanted to maintain a minimalist design aesthetic in keeping with its global brand- a Swiss company known for precision engineering that is a leader in providing innovative and energy efficient solutions for moveable transportation in buildings.
This interior renovation reimagines a once-ordinary 1970s office building into Schindler Elevator Corporation’s distinctive U.S. Headquarters—an environment defined by precision, clarity, and innovation. Central to the transformation is the integration of Gammalux linear lighting, which becomes both an architectural and experiential driver. These refined lines of light articulate space with striking precision, guiding movement, enhancing perspective, and reinforcing the minimal, engineered aesthetic rooted in Schindler’s Swiss heritage.
Inspired by contemporary artists who use light and color to explore motion, the design unfolds as a sequence of one-point perspective compositions—immersive “mise en scènes” that abstractly express displacement and flow. Gammalux linear light traces these spatial narratives, forming luminous arches and edges that heighten contrast against bold Swiss-red surfaces while maintaining a clean, unadorned atmosphere. The result is a dynamic interplay of light and geometry that elevates the workplace beyond function into experience.
Seamless, trim-less detailing further underscores the company’s precision engineering ethos, while program spaces are conceived as inhabitable installations—three-dimensional expressions of movement shaped and activated by light. Complementing this visual and spatial clarity, the renovation incorporates a photovoltaic roof array, enhanced envelope systems, and recyclable materials, creating a high-performance, sustainable workplace where light—both natural and artificial—defines the identity of the space.
Recessed luminaires in the corridors create 'framed' lines of light that convey the illusion of movement. In selecting the project for the award, the judges commented that these lines of light "give the feeling of looking down an elevator shaft".
We congratulate the design team at ikon. 5 architects on earning Architectural Lighting's 2014 Commendable Achievement award for this project.
