14 North Shore Towers Courier n October 2015 (continued from page 13) Donner and Lanteri had their work cut out for them. On one hand, they knew the space was to be completely gutted and stripped, so they’d have a blank canvas on which to work. On the other, they were limited to the preexisting size and shape of that canvas. Structural and support elements could not be moved or taken down, and there was no chance of expansion, since the Towers was structurally a part of a larger building. They also had to consider the needs of NST’s residents, many of whom utilized walkers, wheelchairs or scooters to move. One of Donner’s biggest problems was natural light; there wasn’t any, save for what little came in from the small window on the rear security door past the bathrooms. And as the walls of the restaurant were not situated against the building’s perimeter, installing windows to the outside was not an option. This unfortunate architectural flaw gave the space a somber, closed-in ambiance. To combat the claustrophobia, the designers presented several solutions. The most significant was the enlargement of the windows along the restaurant’s façade, abutting the Arcade. According to Pantazis, the front casings were dropped more than a foot and widened on the side at each end. The heavy brick-faced bulwarks girding the entrance were removed; the single doorway replaced with a sliding “caseless” glass one, nearly twice the size, and brought forward in line with the front. The change contributed to the interior having an open-concept feel and gave the entire façade the illusion of a single pane of uninterrupted glass, flowing smoothly into the Arcade. A similar treatment was given the rear entrance to the foyer leading to the building’s exit, with its lone, humble window—which could not be enlarged or altered for security and safety reasons—and the bathrooms. The accessway was completely opened up and replaced with glass walls and a large sliding door. The window in the building’s rear door may not have been enhanced, but the new design now enables the maximum effect of whatever natural light comes through. To assuage the heaviness of the clunky 2-foot square support beams that stood at intervals throughout the dining room and exacerbated the low-ceilings, making the room seem like it was straining under the weight of the building, the columns were covered with Italian glass tiles with undulating—not flat—surfaces of multicolored backing. This creates a shimmering effect as light reflects off the layered glass surface of the tile, like the sunlight off the ripples of the ocean, which moves and changes as you walk through the restaurant. It also gives the illusion of the columns being thinner than they are. “Our idea was to make everything reflective, durable and light,” Donner explained. “We wanted to create an interior which was a little glamorous and bright, since there are no windows.” This vision is carried throughout every detail, from the gold and silver filigree running through the wallpaper and ceiling tiles to the shiny silver, stainless steel subway tile along the service areas behind the counter; from the new bar, set with glass shelving, lit from beneath to the gold sunburst-framed circular mirrors in the dining room and myriad lighting fixtures. Speaking of the latter, the new Towers Restaurant is a lighting designer’s dream. Mini crystal chandeliers hang above the booths; textured glass lighted sconces front the walls; and futuristic doughnut spotlights seem to hover over the counter and bar. These lighted features compliment an expanded phalanx of recessed floodlights in the ceiling, which has been raised about a foot overall and further enhanced with sunk-in wells, framed with even more light. The host/register stand to the right of the old entrance had been reduced and moved back into the foyer and parallel to the new sliding glass entrance, so customers can be greeted as soon as they walk in. Off-white marble tiles with veins of color has replaced the dingy 40-year old rug, with hardwood installed in the dining areas. Though the seating capacity has not been changed, some booths have been exchanged for sleeker tables and those booths that remain are of a less-ponderous design. The result is a restaurant with wider, more accessible pathways, with a smoother tread, for easier mobility, especially for those using walkers, canes or other means of conveyance. The entire effect is awesome, giving the restaurant the look and feel of a showcase usually featured in the likes of Architectural Digest. It is a long-overdue and fitting upgrade to North Shore Towers, the city’s most popular building complex in 2014, according to real estate website Property Shark. General Manager Glen Kotowski congratulates Spiros New host stand Quartz countertops are illuminated by suspended designer lighting Plenty of lighting, stainless steel wall tiles, imported Italian glass-tiled beams and marble floors greet patrons as they enter
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