This major renovation of Ertl’s showroom, located off the main entrance to the former International Toy Center, extended it to the basement, making it the most prominent and one of the largest showrooms at the Center. The large open stair, covered with a sky-blue vaulted ceiling and enclosed by wood-paneled walls that conceal lighting, beckons buyers toward the lower level. The stair railing consists of three horizontal bars—a circle, a square, and a diamond—in a playful gesture appropriate to the toys displayed there.

The renovation included an overhaul of the showroom’s lighting and mechanical systems, and the redesign of its sales offices. The Ertl Company thanked us for “making the Ertl showroom the finest presentation in its 50-year tenure. It was the largest renovation we’ve ever undertaken and your expertise … made this project very manageable.” (Mechanical/Electrical Engineer: M.A. Rubiano PE, P.C.; Photos © Yuri Marder)