Jeff Jordan Architects: Wells Fargo Loft

by Michael Scivoli
jeff jordan architects

Jeff Jordan Architects is one of New Jersey’s most forward-thinking firms. A graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of California at Berkeley, Jordan spent years creating projects across the country before finally planting his roots in New York City. At his Jersey City firm, Jordan and his team are the creative minds behind some of the most nuanced projects in the state.

This Wells Fargo Loft is one of the firm’s premier projects. From its historic facade to its new interior millwork, it’s no doubt become one of the standout projects in Jersey City. The clients, two local artists, bought the double-height, ground-level loft with aspirations of creating a live/work studio. The structure was built back in 1890 and though it has seen renovations in the 1990s (which was when it was separated into residential units), Jeff Jordan and his team were tasked with carving out a balance between living and working spaces.

jeff jordan architects

Photography by Gregory Maka

To give you an idea of just how old the Wells Fargo building in Hamilton Park is, it was used to stable the company’s horses and stagecoaches at the turn of the last century. Naturally, elements such as exposed brick are the foundation of such projects, particularly when one considers the strategic reconfiguration of the space’s walls. Jordan and his team specialize in renovating older buildings in Hudson County but due to the loft’s size (and other details such as large exposed beams that run the length of the structure), the project was no doubt a unique test of their creative ability.

jeff jordan architects

Photography by Gregory Maka

Regardless of the challenge, the loft itself was still, in layman’s terms, just one (big) room. “Of key importance was the means by which the space’s program would be partitioned,” the firm says. “The client’s desire to integrate living and work areas required that, on the one hand, no hard delineation be made between the two while, on the other hand (for a host of practical reasons), some sort of boundaries were needed.”

jeff jordan architects

Photography by Gregory Maka

Reconfiguring the main living area to be both unobstructed and functional involved the removal of some walls (and the addition of new plywood millwork throughout the space). To keep the now larger overall space fluid, Jordan and his team employed acrylic screens, wood shelving and built-in cabinetry. 

Photography by Gregory Maka

The project’s palette is both rustic and historic, creating a chic look while paying homage to the structure’s storied details. The space is anchored by familiar elements such as (repainted) steel beams and existing brick. While light-colored millwork and a fresh coat of white paint couple to create a pristine, comfortable ambiance.

About the Architect

A full-service Jersey City firm, Jeff Jordan Architects with a focus on top design standards and project execution. The firm’s projects vary in scale from modest interior remodels to complex new builds in both urban and rural settings alike. Jeff Jordan Architects works to apply sustainable practices with an understanding of the construction process. The team employs a multi-disciplinary approach which involves collaborative efforts with designers, engineers, fabricators and builders. “Every project is seen as an opportunity to provide dynamic and uplifting responses to the nuances of the site, program and client.”

About the Author/s

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Michael is the Editor-in-Chief of New Jersey Digest, COO of X Factor Media, and an avid writer. Growing up in Bergen County, he discovered his passion for words while in Friday detention. Michael loves kayaking, a fat glass of Nebbiolo, and over-editing.

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