Two branches of a large financial institution are putting interiorscape design and the connected maintenance program to the test in New York’s bustling environment. The first location is a Class A commercial tower in Midtown Manhattan and is one of the city's most recognizable structures. Office tenants, banking customers, and the energy of the surrounding business district make it a high-visibility space where standards are sky-high. The second location is a street-level financial storefront in Williamsburg. This neighborhood is known for residential density, commercial buzz, and community-minded clientele. Both branches feature interior plant installations in customer-facing areas, so each requires professional maintenance. One is a corporate tower while the other is a smaller neighborhood storefront. Together, they represent a range of environments where interiorscaping has the chance to make numerous positive impacts.
Challenges
Designing plant-forward interiors in active banking environments presents a few obstacles. The steady flow of visitors throughout the day is a key concern. You have to plan for all that foot traffic, but the changing microclimates come into play as well.
Lighting conditions can vary drastically inside an urban banking center too. Worse, there are certain spots where surrounding buildings limit natural light even more. Living walls and feature plant installations must be carefully designed to ensure they get adequate light. Supplemental grow lights are one common solution, but here they have to fit within the client’s LEED goals.
"Healthy people in healthy places equals a healthy economy." ~USGBC sustainability mission
Complex plant palettes, like those used in large living walls, also require precise water and nutrients. Complexities such as this are handled outdoors more easily than indoors, as you can imagine. It’s one thing to have automated irrigation options outside, but quite another to manage potential moisture issues inside an office building.
Results
Each challenge noted could derail these two commercial interiorscapes if not for innovative solutions used by Greenery NYC, a Yellowstone Landscape company. See the details below.
- Greenery NYC addressed foot traffic challenges through mindful design and experienced horticultural planning gained on a variety of property types.
- Prioritizing aesthetics and plant health means long-lasting vibrance without constant worry of plant replacement costs.
- Plant selection took into account each microclimate and the possibility of future changes to those microclimates.
- Strategic lighting and irrigation systems were used to maintain ideal conditions for the living wall and surrounding plantings.
- Plant groupings worked with lighting needs, while softening architectural lines and creating welcoming zones for customers.
- Modern automated irrigation systems were installed so plants receive consistent moisture, while fail-safes are in place to detect leaks.
- Regular soil and plant checks ensure each interiorscape element is receiving proper nutrition.
- Our certified horticulturists' systems and ongoing education for biophilic design support plant health and attractive interiors that promote well-being.
- Custom seating integrated with the Ficus ‘Audrey’ tree provides a natural gathering point that encourages visitors to relax.
- Plant and container selection is guided by visual impact and the client’s LEED goals.
Impressed Patrons
“The building is LEED certified, so I feel like I'm helping the environment.”
“Great use of lighting on the exterior and interior.”
“It feels more like a nice hotel than a bank.”
Biophilic Banking
Most people would agree that visiting their bank falls into a couple of categories. They either see it as a stressful event involving lots of paperwork or an errand that adds more of a rushed feeling to their day. And in a busy area like New York City, that feeling can be a bit overwhelming.
That’s why this client deserves so much credit for their efforts to make customers feel a sense of relief that comes from biophilic design. People’s surroundings matter greatly, as research repeatedly shows, and living plants are a positive addition to those surroundings. In this case, it’s an uncommon addition because it happened in the interior of a financial company.
By blending living plant systems into branch designs, this client is showing how businesses can promote well-being for their staff and clientele. Interiorscaping adds natural beauty to a commercial property while giving a sense of calm and focus that’s needed more than ever in today’s hectic pace.
Interested in making your interior space more inviting and beneficial for those you serve? Contact Yellowstone Landscape for an interiorscape consultation.
