The architecture, planning and interior design firm, CetraRuddy announced it will move its headquarters to a waterfront location in Lower Manhattan after 30 years in SoHo.

“When we moved our offices to SoHo over 30 years ago, it was primarily an industrial area with cost-effective rents compared to more traditional locations. We were pioneers seeing the benefits of that historic neighborhood. Once again, as SoHo has become more established, we are again pioneering with other arts and design professionals as well as some of the most innovative chefs and restauranteurs who have been priced out of other neighborhoods,” says Nancy J. Ruddy, cofounding principal of CetraRuddy. “In choosing Lower Manhattan, we have opted for relocating to a space that creates the best working environment for our team: a light-filled space with spectacular water views where every person has a view.”

According to the Rudin Family, owner of the modern, 25-story building, One Battery Park Plaza, CetraRuddy’s lease represents a major transaction for the property in a market where downtown leasing activity continues at a brisk pace. CetraRuddy is designing its own new and innovative flexible workplace for its 108 employees, and will move into the building in October.

“We started with 2,300 square feet and have incrementally grown to 23,000 square feet,” says John Cetra, FAIA, cofounder and design principal. “Moving gives us the opportunity to create 23,000 square feet of space designed specifically for our needs and to craft optimum work and collaboration space.”

Bill Rudin, Co-Vice Chairman and CEO of Rudin Management Company, the operating arm of Rudin Family holdings states, “We are so pleased to have CetraRuddy as tenants in the building and to provide them with the infrastructure to meet the needs of modern businesses.”

At the heart of CetraRuddy’s planned headquarters is a multipurpose living room space, where sofas are coupled with interactive technology, and where clients, project groups and staff take advantage of bright, open meeting and lounge areas. A food and beverage area with a communal table for gathering, eating and working encourages socialization and informal meetings. In addition to client project meeting spaces, informal meeting areas are formed within design pods and offer inspiring water views.

The new headquarters also includes a meditation room. Displays of the firm’s iconic New York works and its global project portfolio – from London and Miami, to Cochin and Jeddah – will be prominently displayed in a new gallery space that has the flexibility to show completed work as well as on-going conceptual work.

“The expansive design studio with water views on three sides will be an inspiration to us all,” says Ximena Rodriguez, Principal and Director of Interior Design.  “The design is simple and elemental yet personal and idiosyncratic – it is like us and our work.”

“Designing and building for ourselves was a big challenge. It was a great collaboration between ourselves and our trusted consultants: Cosentini Associates, One Luxe Studio, the Clarient Group and Outsource Consultants as well as our construction manager Vanguard Construction,” says Eugene Flotteron, Principal and Director of Architecture.

Representing CetraRuddy in the transaction were the established New York brokers from Colliers, the Principal Andrew Roos and Principal and Tri State President, Michael T. Cohen, who have been clients and close friends of John and Nancy. “While recognizing that moving from their home of many years was a difficult decision, after a comprehensive review of alternatives, the principals of CetraRuddy determined that the quality of Rudin Management’s One Battery space and the opportunity to create a new, inspiring workplace for their employees and clients was essential and exciting for the future of the firm,” says Cohen and Roos.