Transforming Modern Icons

The renovation of the European Union Headquarters, also known as the Charlemagne Building, represents a decisive transformation of a mid-century administrative structure into a contemporary institutional workplace aligned with the evolving identity of the European Union. Originally completed in 1967 and designed by Jacques Cuisinier, the building embodied a restrained International Style approach, with a repetitive concrete façade, horizontal banding, and a rational, office-driven plan typical of postwar European government complexes.

Inside, floor plates were reconfigured to support greater flexibility, efficiency, and collaboration, aligning the workplace with contemporary standards while improving spatial clarity and circulation. Completed in the late 1990s, the project stands as an early and influential example of strategic repositioning through façade transformation and adaptive reuse. Rather than demolish and rebuild, Jahn leveraged the existing structure to extend the building’s lifespan, enhance its environmental performance, and redefine its civic presence, demonstrating a rigorous, future-oriented approach to reinvention that continues to inform the firm’s work today.

The repositioning of the Thompson Center addresses the future of one of Chicago’s most iconic civic buildings. Originally completed in 1985, the Thompson Center is defined by its expressive geometry and monumental atrium, conceived as an open and accessible seat of state government. Over time, however, the building faced challenges related to performance, maintenance, and evolving programmatic needs.

Jahn’s approach to repositioning focuses on preserving the building’s defining architectural elements while upgrading its environmental performance, systems, and usability. Strategies include improving the building envelope, and enhancing energy efficiency. The goal is to retain the civic presence of the building while enabling a broader range of occupancy and long-term viability.

The lobby renovation of the Messeturm repositions one of Frankfurt’s most recognizable commercial towers for a contemporary tenant and visitor experience. Originally completed in 1990, the tower’s postmodern expression and monumental entry sequence reflected the ambitions of its time, but the lobby environment had become dated in both performance and spatial clarity. Jahn’s intervention focuses on recalibrating the ground plane as a welcoming threshold within the dense urban fabric of the Messe district.

The lobby renovation at 120 North LaSalle reimagines the arrival experience within a prominent downtown office tower, aligning the building with contemporary expectations for workplace environments. Originally completed in the early 1990s, the tower’s lobby reflected a more formal and enclosed design language that no longer supported the level of openness, amenity, and flexibility sought by today’s tenants.

The renovation introduces a lighter, more transparent material palette and reorganizes the ground floor to improve circulation, visibility, and access to shared amenities.

The repositioning of Building B2 at the Sony Center transforms a former IMAX theater into a flexible mix of office and retail space, responding to shifting market demands within one of Berlin’s most prominent mixed-use destinations. Originally conceived as part of the Sony Center’s entertainment program, the IMAX facility had become functionally obsolete, prompting a re-evaluation of its role within the complex.