Best Office/Retail/Mixed-Use: 800 Scudders Mill Road

Standing as a model for redevelopment of older corporate facilities in New Jersey, the $215-million gut rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of this 1985 building created a new office space for Novo Nordisk in Princeton, N.J.

The 730,000-sq-ft building was stripped to its skeletal frame, and its facade, roof, interiors and mechanical systems were replaced with environmentally advanced systems that reduced energy use and water consumption and allowed the project to obtain LEED-Silver certification.

In the 1980s, the structure featured an exterior of precast concrete panels and bronze ribbon windows, which hindered views of the site's grounds. The project team removed the old facade and replaced it with a new curtain wall and spandrel glass enclosure that incorporates metal panels to create a contemporary exterior.

The team also removed an existing mezzanine and moved the exterior wall to the west, creating a new two-story main lobby. Full height glass defines the front and back of the new lobby, which is protected from harsh weather by a metal clad portal. The integration of so many different materials on the project caught the attention of Best Projects judges, who noted that the new style brought light into the building and significantly contributed to the project.

Design Assist and 3D technology were used to uncover any gaps in the design. For example, on the curtain wall the building's existing precast skin was removed and a new high-performance curtain wall was installed. But before work began, a mock-up was created to ensure that the design intent was met and to allow for any changes. The team used similar methods on the interior portion of the project, creating several mock-ups throughout, allowing the architect to tweak the design if necessary.

The project was completed on budget for the core and shell and under budget for the tenant improvements. The project, completed in a year and a half, was delivered on time while overcoming the inherent problems associated with the refurbishment of a 35-year-old structure.

800 Scudders Mill RoadPrinceton, N.J.

Key Players

Owner/Developer 800 Scudders Mill LLC, a partnership of LCOR Inc., Ivy Equities and Intercontinental Real Estate Corp.

General Contractor Structure Tone Inc.

Lead Designer HOK

MEP Engineer AKF

Structural Engineer Ysrael A. Seinuk

Civil Engineer Van-Note Harvey

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