As published in Toledo Business Journal - October 1, 2020
The Hylant Building previously had renovations performed to its lobby, part of a larger plan to update the building
The Hylant Building, located at 811 Madison Avenue in downtown Toledo, is undergoing further renovations. As part of a larger plan to update the building – which previously included renovations to the lobby, café, Hart’s offices on the fifth and sixth floors, and Hylant’s 13th floor – the eighth and ninth floors of the building that Hylant occupies is being renovated. The third and fourth floors of the building, occupied by NSG Group, are having restroom and lighting renovations done as well.
The Collaborative, based in Toledo, is the architect for this project, and Rudolph Libbe Group is the general contractor. Lakeside Interior Contractors, Midwest Environmental, Interstate Commercial Glass, and Walbridge Woodworks are also working on the project.
According to Nick Camp, senior operations analyst for Hylant, planning for this phase of the project has been ongoing for a few years, but physical work for this 27,000 square foot renovation started in April and will be completed by October.
“Hylant occupies six of the 12 tenant floors and has approximately 250 employees in our Toledo office. For Hylant, this project on the eighth and ninth floors allows for better utilization of the space and to update the look and functionality for our employees. This project is part of a larger plan with The Collaborative to update the building, but also attract new tenants and retain current tenants. Our planning and the first projects started in 2016. The timing has been ideal to take advantage of the positive downtown Toledo momentum. The Hylant Building has a lot to offer prospective tenants and the improvements are a benefit to all.”
The Hylant Building’s café is accented with new signage and lighting, which is designed to increase visibility from outside the building
Ray Micham, AIA, LEED AP, principal, The Collaborative, said, “The Hylant office floors renovations, presently under construction, return to a restorative approach. When the building was designed, most of the staff requiring offices were matched one-to-one with a personal secretary. Therefore, the outside window wall was lined with offices and there was a ‘secretarial zone’ outside these offices, then a circulation zone, and then the building core – bathrooms, elevators, stairwells, etc. Hylant’s needs included fewer offices, somewhat more workstations, and virtually no personal secretaries. The new layout of the floors keeps offices on the outside window wall, although they are smaller, but provides more access to the window wall for workstation areas. Additionally, the interior office windows are made of glass to allow light and views in the interior spaces.”
Micham noted that following broader national trends in office design, personal offices and workstations are smaller. As personal space becomes smaller, more space becomes available for communal spaces The need for paper filing and large computer equipment has also been greatly reduced.
“The office floors at Hylant feature abundant space for informal collaboration. Unprogrammed lounge spaces make it always easy to grab a coffee and chat with a colleague. Technology is generously provided throughout in the form of Wi-Fi and wall-mounted monitors so that employees can work anywhere,” said Micham.
Dan Diekman, group manager, special accounts, Rudolph Libbe Group, noted that Rudolph Libbe Inc. is providing preconstruction and construction management services, and self-performing demolition, millwork, and coordinating installation of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) upgrades, as well as a FALK brand modular wall system and furniture installation by American Interiors.
GEM Inc., a Rudolph Libbe Group company, is providing preconstruction design / estimating assistance and upgrading HVAC and plumbing, structural steel support for an operable wall system, electrical, LED lighting, fire alarm, and HVAC controls.
Diekman noted that GEM electricians are prefabricating wiring and controls for LED fixtures and about 300 in-wall devices, coordinated with the FALK supplier to ensure fast and on-time installation.
“The project used a FALK modular wall system. We delivered a finished shell and American Interiors built all walls on top of the new carpet to the finished ceiling. GEM also performed some electrical work and limited plumbing within the FALK system,” said Diekman. “Basic phasing for the project was to do the eighth floor first, with the ninth floor constructed concurrently but slightly behind the eighth floor. This allowed the crews to complete their tasks on the eighth floor first and then move up to complete the ninth floor shortly afterward.”
Diekman also noted that design/build was used on the project.
“The decision to go design/build was made primarily to facilitate managing the project through preconstruction and into construction so we could guarantee an on-time delivery of the eighth floor,” said Diekman.
Rudolph Libbe Group is also renovating the Hylant Building’s third and fourth floors for NSG.
“We’re doing restroom renovations and replacing over 350 light fixtures with LEDs. Work also will be complete in October,” said Diekman.
Camp noted that this project is like all of its other renovations to the 60-year old building – requiring a substantial investment in building improvements, office walls, workstations, furniture, and infrastructure.
There are plans for further upgrades, but according to Camp, personnel will evaluate those in light of COVID-19 and the effects on the workforce and required office workspace.