Serendipity on South Broad St.
Background: I work at One South Broad, formerly the PNB Building. My firm's offices are on the 21st floor.
Today, as I frequently do in the afternoons, I made my way in search of sugar to the little shop in the lobby owned by a friendly old Russian man. On the way back up, a lady got on at the 17th floor, said 'hello' in a friendly way, and pushed the button for 24. Naturally, since that is the top floor accessible by elevator, I've been curious about what's up there. In addition, somewhere I picked up the idea that the more desirous, prestigious, and expensive offices would be on the top floors, but I've been noticing that most people who go up to 24 are dressed casually (even denim); this just increased my curiosity about what was on the 24th floor. I was talking with someone recently -- I think it was TOJ -- and I was impressed with her knowledge about what else was in her office building. So, when I saw this seemingly approachable and friendly lady going to 24, I decided to take TOJ's advice about how to find out what other offices were in my building and just ask, if there is only one other person on the elevator.
Her response was, 'They're the offices of [company name I couldn't hear at the time]. Want to see?' My surprised response, 'Sure!'
So I followed her up to the 24th floor, and she gave me a brief walk-through tour of the 24th and 25th floor, the latter accessible by stair from 24. They both turn out to be the offices of Red Tettemer, an ad agency. [Beware: the Red in the company name is echoed by the BLINDING red of the website; it may make your eyes hurt. But you can also see some of their advertising spots, so it's a fun website.] Those floors are COOL! (There's even been an article in an architecture magazine about the offices.) The 24th floor is laid out like offices, but the 25th floor used to be the Wanamaker family apartment, so the office kitchen feels, well, like a real home kitchen, and some of the offices on 25 have linoleum floors from their original use as bathrooms. The 25th floor also has unconventional conference rooms. There are still the original wood floors and the original carved moulding (although it's been painted white), which maintains a stately feel. The wall colors and furniture, though, are vigorous and modern in their clear bright colors. There are bead curtains as doors to the office, incredibly funky and interesting decorations (e.g., a modernistic art bust with colored lights for a necklace or a 'chandelier' with metal tubes curving around ceramic sculpture pieces or a road sign for Tettemer Rd), and even an office cat! On 25, there are two balconies, one looking south and one looking north; the north-facing one has a simply staggeringly awesome view of the City Hall spire and William Penn.
Oh, and the other thing? Her neighbor is of the other paralegals at my firm! That chance encounter on an elevator turned out neat-o!
Today, as I frequently do in the afternoons, I made my way in search of sugar to the little shop in the lobby owned by a friendly old Russian man. On the way back up, a lady got on at the 17th floor, said 'hello' in a friendly way, and pushed the button for 24. Naturally, since that is the top floor accessible by elevator, I've been curious about what's up there. In addition, somewhere I picked up the idea that the more desirous, prestigious, and expensive offices would be on the top floors, but I've been noticing that most people who go up to 24 are dressed casually (even denim); this just increased my curiosity about what was on the 24th floor. I was talking with someone recently -- I think it was TOJ -- and I was impressed with her knowledge about what else was in her office building. So, when I saw this seemingly approachable and friendly lady going to 24, I decided to take TOJ's advice about how to find out what other offices were in my building and just ask, if there is only one other person on the elevator.
Her response was, 'They're the offices of [company name I couldn't hear at the time]. Want to see?' My surprised response, 'Sure!'
So I followed her up to the 24th floor, and she gave me a brief walk-through tour of the 24th and 25th floor, the latter accessible by stair from 24. They both turn out to be the offices of Red Tettemer, an ad agency. [Beware: the Red in the company name is echoed by the BLINDING red of the website; it may make your eyes hurt. But you can also see some of their advertising spots, so it's a fun website.] Those floors are COOL! (There's even been an article in an architecture magazine about the offices.) The 24th floor is laid out like offices, but the 25th floor used to be the Wanamaker family apartment, so the office kitchen feels, well, like a real home kitchen, and some of the offices on 25 have linoleum floors from their original use as bathrooms. The 25th floor also has unconventional conference rooms. There are still the original wood floors and the original carved moulding (although it's been painted white), which maintains a stately feel. The wall colors and furniture, though, are vigorous and modern in their clear bright colors. There are bead curtains as doors to the office, incredibly funky and interesting decorations (e.g., a modernistic art bust with colored lights for a necklace or a 'chandelier' with metal tubes curving around ceramic sculpture pieces or a road sign for Tettemer Rd), and even an office cat! On 25, there are two balconies, one looking south and one looking north; the north-facing one has a simply staggeringly awesome view of the City Hall spire and William Penn.
Oh, and the other thing? Her neighbor is of the other paralegals at my firm! That chance encounter on an elevator turned out neat-o!