1st Place, Interior
Home to the iconic Winston-Salem Journal and Sentinel newspapers for nearly a century, the Sentinel Commons building is a local landmark in the heart of downtown Winston-Salem, N.C. Its rich history dates back to the completion of the oldest portion of the building in 1927.
In its original design, Harold Macklin, an English-born architect known as one of the leading members of the profession in Winston-Salem during the 1920s, adhered to a 1700s historic style and incorporated masterful Georgian Revival details modeled after Independence Hall and Congress Hall in Philadelphia. Although the newspaper continued to use the building as its headquarters and printing/distribution operations center, significant expansions were required to meet the growing demands. It underwent its first expansion in 1958, which incorporated a Mid-Century Modern style into its historic modeling, and a second expansion in 1982 extended the property along 5th Street.
After gaining sole ownership of the building in 2016, the owner’s goal was to transform the 137,000-square-foot building from a predominantly vacant and underutilized property into a multipurpose project, offering unique office spaces, co-working opportunities, and arts and entertainment options.
CHALLENGES
Having been constructed in three sections over 60 years, the building structure and services
had different characteristics that needed to be overcome. Variant electric service and mechanical systems failed to work well together and required significant overhauls and replacements to meet current standards and allow for future planning. Low floor-to-floor heights in the older sections of the building made equipment placement and ductwork routing a challenge. LAMBERT Architecture + Interiors worked closely with the mechanical designers to specify and locate equipment, ductwork, and piping around the building structure while not sacrificing tenant needs or usable space.
The building owner noted that many internal spaces were dark and felt like being in three separate buildings. The team opened numerous exterior walls and multistory spaces and provided energy-efficient glazing that brought natural daylight into the building. New interior finishes and modern lighting throughout the building resulted in a light, vibrant, colorful cohesiveness that didn’t exist previously.
UNIQUE SUITES
LAMBERT Architecture + Interiors was among the first tenants to relocate its headquarters upon seeing the potential of the location. The firm’s conference room features a rolling glass garage door, transforming the room beyond a meeting space of four white walls into a multifunctional workspace. It also gives a subtle nod to the design firm’s origins, which began in a garage more than 30 years ago.
Recognizing the importance of collaboration, the suite features thoughtfully designed collaborative zones, incorporating comfortable seating arrangements and interactive white- boards, encouraging spontaneous discussions and idea generation among team members. Above, a captivating skylight enhances the sense of space and lighting while seamlessly connecting the interior to nature. The original 1927 vertical 2 by 4 flooring remains throughout the suite, minimizing noise disruptions as it once did for the newspaper when printing.
Prominent business-law firm Blanco Tackabery moved to Sentinel Commons in mid-summer 2021, creating a dynamic boost to the much-anticipated redevelopment project. Blanco Tackabery’s entrance and reception lobby occupy the ground floor of the historic building. The space features restored original paneled wainscot and 13-foot-tall arched windows. Three conference rooms, convenient for client meetings, are located behind the lobby waiting area. Most of the attorneys’ and legal staff’s offices are housed on the second floor of the building complex. Glass fronts encase office spaces, allowing natural light to permeate the interior and provide a modern office environment with branded elements, luxe furniture, and custom luxury designs.
Home builder Arden Homes’ first-floor suite features exceptional branding that incorporates Arden’s brand color, green, into the space. In addition to the beautiful interior finishes, the working area is spacious and comfortable, allowing prospective home buyers to feel at ease during their appointments. With the removal of the concrete panels from the façade, glass curtainwalls enhanced visibility, allowed for more daylight and gave the suite a modern look. Each element, from the color scheme to the furniture selection, has been created to reflect the company’s vision to create a cohesive and visually stunning space that is truly its own.
Specializing in private equity and real-estate development, the Trust Foundation’s second-floor suite provides a professional industrial vibe that elevates functionality and aesthetic appeal. Sleek glass doors at the entrance welcome visitors into a world of elegance. Layered illumination, created by combining ambient and accent lighting, enhances the ambiance and deepens the design while highlighting the architecture. With versatile furniture pieces that are functional and stylish, this renovation embraced innovation and creativity while adding artistic flair and attention-grabbing statement pieces for visual appeal.
Also on the second floor, commercial real-estate developer GemCap moved into Trust Foundation’s neighboring suite. The space seamlessly blends contemporary design with timeless elegance crafted to inspire and invigorate its workplace. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow natural light to flood the space, emphasizing the details of the carefully curated furnishings and accents. Using glass partitions as an alternative to traditional walls or office cubicles offers transparency for employees while maintaining privacy. It also allows natural light to permeate workspaces and creates an atmosphere of openness. A vibrant kitchen with bar-style seating serves as a central hub for informal meetings and casual conversations.
Parks Automotive Group relocated its accounting staff into the building in 2022. The upfit included two suites, occupying a portion of the third and entire fourth floors of the 1920s portion of the building along with a new rooftop outdoor dining area. A modern branded environment encompasses both suites, not only meeting operational needs for staff but maintaining the historical elements of the previous newspaper by showcasing memoirs. Acoustic paneling was added to the walls to limit sound traveling throughout the space and enhance branding; the panels feature Parks Automotive Group’s signature blue, and its “Parks Promise” mission is displayed in the executive board room and throughout signature offices.
NEW HOME TO MANY
Today, The Journal remains a tenant in the complex, but Sentinel Commons houses several other companies and is eager to welcome more who will appreciate its historic architectural features and crisp, modern transformation.
PHOTOS: Jay Sinclair, www.jsinclair.com, unless otherwise noted
Retrofit Team
METAMORPHOSIS AWARD WINNER and ARCHITECT: LAMBERT Architecture + Interiors
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: FL Blum
MEP ENGINEERS: Brite Engineering Consultants Inc. and Beekman Point Engineering LLC
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Moorefield Engineering P.C.
ACOUSTICS: Thorburn Associates
INTERIOR SIGNAGE: Sharpe & Co. (fabrication/installation) and Elephant in the Room (design)
Materials
PAINT: Sherwin-Williams
FAUCETS: Delta
LIGHTING: Lithonia Lighting
WALL BASE: Roppe
LOBBY CARPET TILE: Bentley
LOBBY METAL CEILING: USG
BLANCO TACKABERY MULTI-SLIDE POCKET DOOR: Pella
BLANCO TACKABERY QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS: MSI and Wilsonart
PARKS AUTOMOTIVE GROUP LAMINATE: Wilsonart
ARDEN HOMES LAMINATE: Formica and Wilsonart
ARDEN HOMES AND PARKS AUTOMOTIVE GROUP ACOUSTIC CEILING TILE: Armstrong World Industries
BLANCO TACKABERY, GEMCAP, TRUST FOUNDATION AND LAMBERT ARCHITECTURE + INTERIORS LAMINATE: Formica
LAMBERT ARCHITECTURE + INTERIORS GARAGE DOOR: ASSA ABLOY
LAMBERT ARCHITECTURE + INTERIORS DIVIDER SCREEN: FitzFelt