From Rails to Fiber Optics
History. The Verge Building was built in 1926 by Copeland and Allison for the J. S. Brown & Bro. Mercantile Company of Denver, Colorado and Charles Ilfield & Co. Ilfield operated a general merchandise distribution business thought New Mexico in the late 19th and early 20th century. Constructed as a warehouse for the distribution of goods, the J.S. Brown building was connected to the world via a rail spur. The rail network was a driving force of Albuquerque commerce in the mid 1920's. Today, the building is known as the Verge Building and is connected to the world via the world wide web using a state of the art fiber optic network and has been substantially remodeled to serve as a platform for launching new technology businesses.
Design Concept. The Verge Building has been redesigned to reveal its history
and define the future of technology innovation in New Mexico. Beth Rekow used
a fusion of raw materials and contemporary architectural detailing to deconstruct
the traditional workspace and create something more pleasing and efficient
in its place. Exposed beams, raw brickwork, pine planks, and oak finishes are the
building's original structural elements and form the core of the new design. While the historical elements are prominent,
the building shows off its high tech future with energy efficient lighting,
naturally lit work spaces, translucent interior walls, flat screen equipped
conference rooms and lightning fast internet connectivity.
Finished Product. The finished product is a modern, sophisticated environment that redefines the concept of office. The redesigned spaces and infrastructure were created with entrepreneurs in mind. Offices and work stations may be added or deleted on a monthly basis. Each tenant will have use of the network which includes data and telephone services and can be expanded or reconfigured within the building as needs evolve.