First Companies Renovations

From the exterior on 44th Street, what used to look like a nondescript industrial building now sets itself apart. Through the use of Prodema wood panels, steel elements, five 11’x9’ windows, and landscaping details, First Companies headquarters beautifully displays what you can do when working with an existing building structure.

Having grown from 11 to 32 employees in three years, First Companies was in desperate need of additional space to conduct day-to-day business operations. Upon the vacancy in an adjoining suite, First Companies used the opportunity to expand its footprint from 5,300 to over 10,000 square feet.

“This whole building is designed to be interactive with our clients,” says Dean Rosendall, Vice President of Construction for First Companies. “It was designed to show the capabilities of our in-house staff and to let employees have ownership of their own office.” This showroom mentality is evidenced across the office space. From the welcoming lobby with its cultured stone fireplace to the bamboo floors, the circular rotunda to custom made barn doors on project manager’s offices, everything unites to display possibilities to the customers First Companies serves. First Companies also expanded upward during the project, constructing 3,000 square feet of office space on the second story. The space displays a tempered glass floor, two mezzanine structures (allowing customers to experience firsthand the difference in materials), and has multiple overlooks into a design lab area and open air conference room that seats 36.

The entire First Companies team worked on-site through the construction process, an experience Rosendall says taught the group a lot about the challenges of working in a construction zone. “Working through the construction was a huge challenge,” he says. “We found some very beneficial ways to help our clients. No matter how versed you think you are, no matter how much you  know, there’s something you learn in every project.”