RDK Architects Designs 'Architecture for Fragrance' and Gains AIA Recognition

Two views inside RDK Architect’s new office space, dubbed Architecture for Fragrance, which RDK founder Rosette Khorenian shares with her husband’s perfume distribution company in Englewood, NJ.

ENGLEWOOD, NJ—RDK Architect has designed a new 20,000 square-foot office space that combines the architectural business of one spouse with the perfume distribution business of the other, in a novel way that has been honored by the New Jersey Chapter of the American Institute of Architects . The Englewood, N.J.–based architecture firm received a Merit Award in the AIA-NJ’s Built Open category recently, and RDK principal and founder, Rosette Khorenian , tells GlobeSt.com exclusively that she and her husband were seeking a new location for their two businesses when they found an industrial property in need of major renovations. Architecture for Fragrance , designed by Khorenian , is a 5,000-square-foot office addition on top of an existing 15,000-square-foot warehouse. The addition was designed to house Khorenian’s architectural design studio, along with expanded space for her husband’s perfume distribution headquarters for Europerfumes . With Khorenian ‘s design, she aimed to create a workplace that inspired creativity, collaboration, and motivation. “We came across this building in Englewood, it was in pretty bad condition, so it actually worked out very well for us,” she says. “Because the site was limited, the lot was already maxed out, the option was to go up. My idea was to try to combine the idea of an industrial and refinement.” The couple purchased the 15,000-square-foot former metal stamping warehouse to house their respective growing businesses. The warehouse has been completely renovated to meet the requirements for the distribution center and to support the newly constructed office addition built above the warehouse space. The new office addition features private offices, open workstations, a conference room, lounge areas, and a kitchen. The office incorporated both industrial and luxury refinements, reflecting the aesthetics of both businesses. Modern residential style furniture and area rugs were incorporated throughout the office to create a home-like setting for the employees. Khorenian also created a 2,000-square-foot green roof and garden to create a more inspiring work that can be viewed from the office through its glass curtain wall. “We tried to make it feel more like a home,” says Khorenian. “Since we’re working all the time, that’s our second home. We wanted to feel comfortable, we wanted to have someplace where everyone enjoys coming here.” Open workstations and lounge areas in the office encourage collaboration among employees through informal meetings and brainstorming. Clearstory windows also are used throughout the building to bring more natural light into the work space and to reduce electrical consumption. The exterior was designed to reminisce sheet metal seems found on box trucks to give the building its industrial characteristic. “The office design was extremely well-thought out in order to accommodate and reflect two uses that, to most, would seem completely disparate,” says Justin Mihalik, AIA , president of AIA-NJ . “ RDK , however, was able to successfully unite these environments to improve both the appearance and functionality of the old warehouse, making it a creative workplace reflective of the modern office trends today.” Located just off route 4 and the NJ Turnpike in Bergen County, the building provides easy access to all transportation routes and a direct route to New York City, which is located 10 miles away.