Urban Digital Design Studio
Madison Avenue 2002

Just 2 Guys, creators and editors of cutting edge digital video animation and effects for television and film, came to us with the request for a functional yet hip work space, with all the comforts of home. Since they spend long hours at the computer consoles, as well as hosting parties packed with media industry cohorts, the requirement for fun, informal comfort was key.

We responded with an open, flexible plan that lets the creative team enjoy the entire space during the work day, and provides maximum agility for nighttime gatherings and spontaneous scooter races. The work area centers on a long array of Mac stations on simple wood farm tables, providing easy flexibility for staff and equipment. The reception area, open to the work space, is a large lounge which doubles as an informal meeting and gathering area. The lone partition in the 2,500 square foot floor-thru loft is a faceted membrane of glass doors, which was inserted to provide acoustic separation, but retain visual transparency, for presentations to clients in the conference area.

A richly rustic material palette was developed, starting with honey-stained oak floors, doors, and cabinetry. Hand-burnished steel framework and oil-rubbed bronze hardware compliment the existing rough steel beams, which were left exposed. The old common brick walls were stripped of plaster, brushed, and given a very low-sheen sealing treatment. Stainless steel in the snack bar, and high-gloss black paint on the original coffered tin ceilings, provide a sleek counterpoint to the earthier materials. Furnishings reflect our intersection with the highly eclectic attitude of the owners, whose Texas roots are especially evident in the mounted bull’s head.
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