Commercial

Optimus Architecture and principal architect, David A. Souers, AIA, has planned and designed many commercial projects.

During the 1970's and 80's, Mr. Souers specialized in commercial office buildings and office parks working with national corporate clients including IBM, MetLife, Digital Equipment and Allstate Insurance. His responsibilities included all activities of project development from site plan approvals to design to real estate development to construction management and property management. Over this period, Mr. Souers completed more than four million square feet of commercial office projects ranging from one to sixty two stories.

Design should always be attractive. However our designs are also intended to be good business solutions. We advocate flexible, adaptable and efficient buildings and sites that function well over time as uses change and technology advances.

Our Commercial Projects
The following projects represent some of our commercial work.

Montgomery Row
Optimus designed a new 28,000 sf two story mixed-use retail, office and residential project for the former Chevrolet dealership lot in the Village of Rhinebeck. Our design earned praise and a speedy approval from the Planning Board for its sensitivity to the character of Rhinebeck and the urban design interests of the community.

This project earned an award from the Dutchess County Planning Confederation.

Ulster Savings Bank
Ulster Savings Bank opened three new branch banks in 2008 that Optimus designed. Our services included support and coordination for site plan approvals right through construction administration.

Photos here depict the new Red Hook branch on Route 9 south of the village, and an interior of the Woodstock branch. The first new branch to open was in Gardner where Optimus converted a two story historic house into a branch bank with a new attached drive through. The Woodstock branch occupies a portion of a larger retail building. The Red Hook branch is a model for future new freestanding buildings.

Optimus and Ulster Savings Bank worked closely with the Red Hook Planning Board to tailor the exterior building and site design to suit the character and expectations of the community.

Rhinebeck Savings Bank
Optimus designed a major renovation and expansion for the original 1800's Rhinebeck Savings Bank located in historic Rhinebeck, NY. The bank owned a neighboring 1920's brick building, originally a retail center for Central Hudson Gas & Electric. To address historic concerns raised by the public, Optimus's design elevated and rebuilt the CHG&E building next to the bank to create the new addition.

The entire bank was gutted and rehabbed with a new HC accessible connection between the banking floor and the personal banking and office areas. A new glass drivethrough canopy and lanes were added. The bank earned awards from the Dutchess County Planning Confederation for this project and the Rhinebeck Historical Society..

Premier National Bank
Optimus designed a new regional bank in a traditional style to represent the bank's historic foundations in the community.

The materials are contemporary and cost effective while the appearance is crisp and rich. The bank technology was not given a back seat. As an example, the vault is modular which allowed the owner to change his mind during construction. We relocated the vault after it was installed to add two more tellers. We designed a mechanical attic to house HVAC equipment, preserving valuable floor space for banking operations. This project cost less than most standard design/build or custom bank facilities.

Central Hudson Energy Group
Central Hudson, a gas and electric utility company serving the Mid-Hudson Valley, was looking for a site to consolidate its Ulster County services facilities. With a leased facility coming up for renewal, time was of the essence. Optimus was retained to help evaluate the reuse of an 18 acre former lumber and building supply facility that had been vacant for years. In one year, Optimus helped take the project through site plan approvals, planning, design and construction. CHEG moved in fall 2008. A 45,000 sf three story retail building was converted to offices and a meter shop. A 100,000 sf warehouse was converted to supply storage, truck repair bays, linemen truck bays, and offices. The balance of the site was re-constructed for new utilities, site lighting, fuel storage, paving, security fencing, storm drainage, sanitary field, and outdoor equipment storage.

Hudson Valley Metro Centre
Optimus prepared a conceptual plan and renderings to convert a failed 600,000 sf retail mall to a new mixed use business park.

Our design addressed several key issues affecting the existing facility:

• Traffic circulation was brought through the building to open up the interior with a new plaza.

• Storefronts were turned out to the exterior to create sidewalk access and village-like facades.

• New buildings were located to break up large perimeter parking lots.

• A new image of traditional character was created to encourage pedestrian activity.

Credit Data Headquarters
Optimus provided design and construction management services to convert a 56,000 sf industrial building into a new national headquarters office for a credit reporting company. The project included:

• Computer, printer and patch panel rooms for central computing services.

• Open landscape offices with accessible built-in computer wiring raceways. Our drywall and millwork concepts cut costs significantly over furniture systems.

• A circulation and core concept for future expansion without disrupting or duplicating services.

• Finishes and interior design to convey a headquarters feel at modest costs.

Sovereign Logistics
Optimus worked with the owner to restore and convert a deteriorating Victorian house in Hyde Park, NY, to an attractive and useful office building for the owner’s import business. The project resolved difficult building code and approval issues. Hyde Park has subsequently honored this project with two separate awards for historic preservation and community service.

Rhinebeck Equine
Optimus designed a new equine hospital and surgery center for Rhinebeck Equine LLP, a growing equine veterinary practice. We applied our health care design skills and research to create a state-of-the-art animal health care facility.

Optimus designed other veterinary facilities including Orange County Veterinary Hospital in Goshen, NY.