MANA is the world’s leading contract and private label cosmetic manufacturer. JFA was hired by Mana to design a new entry canopy and lobby for their headquarters building in Queens. The building is a turn of the century industrial warehouse, designed by renowned American architect, Albert Kahn. JFA introduced a new design element at the entrance in the form of two stainless steel winged canopies that sharply contrast with the building’s turn-of-the-century masonry details. The canopies transform into a ceiling plane inside the lobby and continue to the back of the lobby finally terminating by “turning down” and becoming a wall plane. The effect is to organize the lobby through the use of a continuous ceiling plane that bends and folds according to the existing conditions of the space. The use of bright red lettering for the building address on the canopy undersides created a brand identity for the building.
