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Akron, Ohio, once famed as the world’s rubber capital, had been hit hard by the
Midwest's manufacturing decline. In the early 1990s, multiple "brown-field" buildings
stood empty in the once-bustling city, architecturally impressive but environmentally
undesirable. But now "Rubber City" is bouncing back, big time. And law firm Brouse
McDowell is part of the rebound.
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Brouse
McDowell
On-Site
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Design Challenge
Instead of being dark mahogany, the Kimball Office Change casegoods are graceful
and modern, in Amber Cherry finish. Accents are brushed aluminum. Equally up-to-date
Bingo side chairs accommodate guests. High above, Saarinen-style columns flare at
the ceiling, and light floods the space in between. Rather than hide the column
capitals, Bommarito designed a raised floor to distribute data, electrical and accommodate
the HVAC system. The floor also brings desks to windowsill height, so all can enjoy
the view.
Whitmer enthuses, "Our clients love the space. They say it’s nice but not overdone."
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Designer, Bommarito, is equally pleased, and credits Kimball Office for helping
achieve the exciting result. "Kimball Office has such a flexible product, and the
price point is very, very attractive. We put it out to bid and one major line was
less, but I've worked with Kimball Office in Texas a lot, and I knew if there was
a problem, I could just pick up the phone and call. Kimball Office is always there."
The lawyers didn't exactly set out to be urban pioneers. Their respected firm, an
Akron fixture since 1918, simply needed new space. Squeezed into offices last remodeled
in the 1970s, Brouse McDowell was hard-pressed to accommodate its ever-evolving
technology, not to mention its people.
To find and design its new quarters, the lawyers chose The Bommarito Group, an Austin,
Texas, company known for law firm design. Designer,Marla Bommarito, saw the exciting
potential in the old Akron factory, and helped the attorneys see how it could fit
their needs as well. A thorough cost analysis, combined with a stunning view, put
the eyesore at the top of the law firm's site list.
The Kimball Office Solution
Today, each of Brouse McDowell’s partners has a prized window view — with an interior
that’s equally impressive! Marla Bommarito calls it "industrial." Jerry Whitmer,
the Brouse McDowell partner who headed the relocation, calls it "contemporary."
Neither adjective — nor the space itself — is what most people expect in a law firm.
In law firm interiors, mahogany is the norm — even the cliché. Instead, Brouse McDowell
opted for a warm Amber Cherry finish (shown here on Change casegoods) for an innovative,
modern look.
Brouse McDowell’s 49 attorneys and their staff now occupy the fifth floor of an
old B.F. Goodrich building, once called "the eyesore at the corner of Cedar and
Main" by Akron Business magazine. But now the restored factory — winner of a national
Phoenix Award for brown-field redevelopment — is a shining example of urban revitalization.
Product specifications: Definition® and Change® casegoods;
Skye® and Bingo® seating.
Interior Design: Marla Bommarito, The Bommarito Group
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