How do you get to 2 Rector Street? You head to Greenwich Street and look for the well appointed 26 story building shaped like a U.

Follow the veins of the American marble pavers of the arcade at No. 101 and you’ll step into the stunning new lobby of what is now a LEED Silver Certified mixed use office building and home to a hot new workplace called Convene.

Architects Montroy Andersen DeMarco recently completed an ambitious redevelopment and repositioning of 101 Greenwich Street (formerly known as Two Rector Street) that included a redesign of the lobby and arcade which were formerly cut off from one another. A floor-to-ceiling glass wall opens up the arcade, essentially extending the lobby to the outside.

The original design of the building was by Clinton and Russell. It was built in 1905 for a freight shipping conglomerate. In 1923, three more stories were added, for a total of 26. For its recent redevelopment, the architects worked with the classic Beaux Arts building’s owners to reposition the property from a class B to a class A office tower through architectural and infrastructure upgrades. The 481,000-square-foot office building is targeting tenants in TAMI (technology, advertising, media, and information) as well as the financial and hospitality sectors.

Of the $75 million construction budget for the redevelopment of the building, 75 percent went toward technology and mechanical, electrical and plumbing upgrades, refreshed common areas and new elevators. The property was redesigned to achieve a LEED Silver rating.

Owned and developed by Cove Property Group and Bentall Kennedy, the building is an excellent example of adaptive reuse for the trend in workplace environments to small boutique spaces supported by high end communal amenities. As an example, the existing entrance along Trinity Place was enclosed to offer tenants a lounge area equipped with a small library of books relating to New York City real estate and history. Inside office tenants enjoy high speed internet, gourmet food options and event support.

The building is now home to Convene's NYC flagship location a multi-floor, flexible workspace that boasts full-service meeting and event spaces powered by five-star hospitality and seamless technology. The flagship is one of Convene’s 13 New York venues, with more in other major cities. For a fun look back at the history of the building all the way to the covered wagon, read this Convene blog post.

Visitors will immediately notice the completely redesigned lobby and arcade where the architects used GEORGIA MARBLE - PEARL GREY™  marble pavers to create a seamless transition from exterior to interior. The pavers were sandblasted for improved slip resistance, replicating the tooth of a flamed granite. Miller Druck Specialty Contracting, Inc.performed the installation.

Though marble is not always an architect’s immediate choice for exterior application, Pearl Grey quarried at Polycor’s Tate, GA quarry, is often selected for New York City projects for its refined vein character and ability to withstand the freeze thaw cycle of the harsh northeast climate. You can see the material at Vornado Realty Trust’s Seventh Avenue headquarters in the plaza and lobby, and at the Museum of Modern Art’s sculpture garden.

See more New York City marble projects in our lookbook.

“The owners chose the stone,” said Barbara Cohen, president of Miller Druck. “They wanted something light in color, not a granite appearance and we presented mock ups of several stones. The Pearl Grey patterning and color fit the bill.”

Polycor owns and operates its Tate, Georgia marble quarry and production facility.

The architects, the general contractor and installer traveled to the Tate quarry to inspect the stone and perform dry lay mock-ups of the pavers prior to install. The architects were particularly interested in the movement and pattern of the veining and how it would translate on a large scale at the final installation. The Tate quarry is vast and includes a wide variation of vein color, pattern and movement. Quarry workers used drones to visually inspect the quarry benches to determine the locations that would yield the professionals’ ideal vein pattern.

With time the stone will develop an even wear and patina, but unlike other lightly colored stones like Travertine, Georgia marble will maintain its integrity in high traffic environments. The superior density of Pearl Grey prevents a lesser dense stone’s tendency to abbrade, dislodge in some areas or leave voids.

Georgia marble’s interlocking minerals make it really resilient in an abusive application like a busy downtown office building. Here in downtown NYC the look of the stone helps bridge the historic nature of the 111-year-old building with the high-tech modern workplace it is now.

Pearl Grey marble with sandblasted finish

101 Greenwich has some trendy brand neighbors including Refinery29, Oscar Healthcare, XO Group, Zocdoc, and Warby Parker who all call Downtown NYC home. According to Convene’s blog, the neighborhoods in Downtown NYC are growing in residents too—the Financial District saw its population nearly double from the year 2000 to 2014.

“Set amongst this scene is 101 Greenwich Street,” the post reads, “Convene’s new headquarters and flagship location. It’s a building steeped in history, and filled with new innovations that make it the perfect place for the future of work.”

From modern marvels to historic restorations, see the projects Polycor powers with American marble. Download the lookbook.