Past Press

Jarmel Kizel Architects & Engineers Transforms Former Bank Building into First-Class Retail Space at West Orange Plaza in West Orange, NJ

LIVINGSTON, N.J. (August 3, 2010)—Jarmel Kizel Architects and Engineers, Inc., a full-service architecture and engineering firm based in Livingston, New Jersey, was called upon by Levin Management Corporation to provide architectural and engineering design services for a former bank location within West Orange Plaza in West Orange, New Jersey.

The highly-visible, free-standing pad site was formerly occupied by a bank, but Levin Management, a retail property management company, believed the structure was in need of modernizing and repair. Jarmel Kizel’s design called for exterior renovation as well as demolition of the entire interior space of the building—down to the four exterior walls—which included removing a mezzanine space, a reinforced concrete bank vault and built-in furniture and shelving. Working with Levin Management’s construction department, Jarmel Kizel’s civil engineering department designed site plan improvements and worked through land entitlements to achieve site plan approvals. Jarmel Kizel’s team of architects and engineers then provided architectural and engineering construction documents for the installation of new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, as well as interior design specifications. All new storefront windows were installed in the building, the existing façade was refaced, and building materials and finishes were selected to harmonize with the retail center located adjacent to the building.

“This retail space, before we became involved in the project, was in real need of upgrades,” stated Irwin H. Kizel, AIA, PP, and principal of Jarmel Kizel. “Our team was challenged with bringing the building up-to-date and making it marketable for our client. The materials we used in this project coincided with those used in West Orange Plaza, and the building’s façade also was re-painted by hand to match the color of the brick in the shopping center,” he added.

West Orange Plaza is owned by Levin Properties and Kruvant Development. The approximately 280,000-square-foot retail center is located at the heavily trafficked intersection of Eagle Rock and Prospect Avenues and is easily accessible from
I-280. Tenants in the shopping center include Whole Foods Market, K-mart, Staples, Dollar Tree and Wendy’s.

“West Orange Plaza is located within a sophisticated demographic market in Essex County,” added David Silver, Corporate Director of Marketing, Levin Management. “With Jarmel Kizel’s new design for this building, we are confident we can attract the ideal tenant and bring a new shopping or dining opportunity to local residents.”

About Jarmel Kizel Architects & Engineers, Inc.
Headquartered in Livingston, N.J., Jarmel Kizel Architects and Engineers, Inc. is a full-service integrated architecture, engineering, interior design and energy consulting firm serving a distinguished client base of commercial and residential real estate companies, and a myriad of corporations throughout the Northeast.  The company employs registered architects, interior designers, professional engineers, LEED-AP professionals and technical support personnel that provide clients with a single source for all of their facility needs from architectural design, interior design, structural, MEP and civil engineering, to energy solutions and product procurement management services.  For more information, contact the company’s Livingston headquarters at 973.994.9669 or visit www.jarmelkizel.com.