700J Fifth Floor

Space in a historic Sacramento building is redesigned for a modern clientele

Several of the upper floors in a historic bank building in downtown Sacramento have been redesigned and upgraded as flexible, open co-working spaces. The owner wanted the interiors to attract modern companies, particularly technology start-ups.

The interior renovations contrast modern elements with the original 1915 structure. What had been a warren of individual offices on the 4,821-square-foot fifth floor is transformed into flowing work and meeting spaces. Comfortable lounge areas were created under modern chandeliers. Collaboration areas include the kitchen’s sleek marble bar, made of marble recycled from the walls of the original Capital National Bank.

Removing the old office walls revealed rows of original, identical wood-framed windows. Now, natural light floods in, reaching into glass-walled, private rooms and illuminating corridors. The subtle rectilinear order of defined spaces and white, structural piers help guide people through the open floor plan while echoing the simple geometry of the four-paned windows, offering previously obstructed views of downtown.

LPA also removed plaster to expose the 1915 clay-tile perimeter walls and pulled down ceilings to show concrete beams with rusty bands of steel and to maximize overhead space. New ductwork and utilities are woven in for an urban loft effect. Classic mid-century modern furniture, minimalist overhead lighting and a beer tap at the bar contrast with the historic ambience.