Exterior sunset view of the building. Concrete walkway wrapped around the building.

Marengo Office Modernization

Marengo Office Modernization | Pasadena, California

The Marengo Office Modernization project is located in the heart of downtown Pasadena, three blocks from DPR’s office. The client, Atlas Capital Group, partnered with Rios Clementi Hale Studios to reimagine the iconic building for a new future. The five-story, 360,000-sq.ft. structure, recognized as the building without windows, was designed by modernist architect Edward Durell Stone in 1974 and used as a credit card processing center. DPR repurposed the building into a core and shell office space with 790 subsurface parking spaces, and an amenity and fitness center on the ground floor, all on a 2.88-acre site. The design transformation included a new glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) exterior façade performed by SPW and our glazing trade partner, a new center atrium cut into the existing structure, new MEPF systems, and additional building upgrades aimed at attracting new tenants.

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Challenge and Solution

To create a new courtyard in the center of the building, DPR spent countless hours removing the roof and metal deck at each level and sending debris though a trash shoot to the ground floor. The team also constructed a new elevator and shaft within this same opening. Using a traditional crane for this work would have required weeks of street closures and a crane in excess of 400 tones due to the grade difference around the building and reach required. Based on these constraints, the team used smaller spider cranes to erect each specifically sized piece of steel that was rolled in through the front door and erected to the roof.

Courtyard view of Marengo Office, glass windows surrounding the courtyard. Bistro lights hung across.
Courtyard view of Marengo Office, glass windows surrounding the courtyard. Bistro lights hung across.
Challenge and Solution

To create a new courtyard in the center of the building, DPR spent countless hours removing the roof and metal deck at each level and sending debris though a trash shoot to the ground floor. The team also constructed a new elevator and shaft within this same opening. Using a traditional crane for this work would have required weeks of street closures and a crane in excess of 400 tones due to the grade difference around the building and reach required. Based on these constraints, the team used smaller spider cranes to erect each specifically sized piece of steel that was rolled in through the front door and erected to the roof.

Eagle eye view of the building surrounded by greenery and trees.
Lobby view, marble off-white flooring, white structure with attached elevator, dark gey ceiling.
Seating space, green accents everywhere.
Seating area, white tables and chairs, wooden wall accents, bank vault style door.
Lobby space, dark grey ceiling, white sofa style chairs, off-white flooring.
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