The Lighting Practice is delighted to announce that the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia will honor the Linode headquarters with a 2019 Grand Jury Award. Presented at the Annual Preservation Achievement Awards on June 5, 2019, the award celebrates the highest level of achievement in historic preservation.
Built in 1902, the Corn Exchange National Bank & Trust is a landmark in the City of Philadelphia. Named on Philadelphia’s registrar of historic places, the building was once an MTV Real World house and is now headquarters to Linode.
When it became home to the growing cloud-hosting company, the Corn Exchange building received a new look with clean lines, sleek fixtures, and minimal ornamentation – all while preserving and honoring its historic architecture. Led by Ballinger, The Lighting Practice’s Helen Diemer, Emad Hasan, Johnathan Cook, and Chris Hallenbeck designed a lighting system for the adaptive reuse project that exclusively utilizes 3000K LEDs. Direct/indirect pendants in open office areas provide flexibility and controllability for Linode’s employees. TLP highlighted the architectural features in various areas, such as the basement marble walls and former bank vault. To reinforce Linode’s brand and identity, simple glowing pendant squares, reminiscent of the company’s logo, hang in the two-story atrium entrance. As a final touch, green lighting was used to illuminate the basement server room. The project team, which included Linode, Ballinger, Materials Conservation Col, The Lighting Practice, and C. Erickson and Sons, successfully created a tech-focused headquarters for a growing company while preserving and highlighting the Corn Exchange building’s original charm.
Each year, the Preservation Alliance presents the Preservation Achievement Awards to recognize projects in the Philadelphia region that exemplify outstanding achievement in historic preservation. The Grand Jury Awards honor projects that offer one of the following:
- Preservation/protection of historic resources in the built environment
- Historic building restoration, rehabilitation, or adaptive re-use
- Sympathetic new construction or additions associated with historic properties
- Education or advocacy efforts related to historic preservation
- Documentation of significant historic resources in the built environment
Established in 1996, the Preservation Alliance promotes the appreciation, protection, and appropriate use of Philadelphia’s historic buildings, communities, and landscapes. The annual Preservation Achievement Awards honor outstanding contributions to the preservation of their architectural and cultural heritage.
