SL Green Realty Corp has embarked on a half-million-dollar effort to spruce up the public spaces in its Manhattan office buildings.

The real estate investment trust is upgrading the image of its Class B buildings with design changes from new rain mats for the entryways and fresh uniforms for the front-desk staff, to new Christmas ornaments with the company logo emblazoned on them.

The assignment is being handled by Josephine Sokolski, who is known as the Lobby Queen.

Ms. Sokolski, the owner of JCS Design Associates Inc., has carved out a niche for herself as a specialist in remodeling and renovating office building lobbies and public spaces.

She became an interior designer a quarter-century ago, after abandoning a career in social work. "I have a low tolerance for unhappiness," she says.

Developer Swig Weiler & Arnow Management Co. gave her a start in her specialty by hiring her to refurbish the corridors and elevators of the Grace Building at 1114 Sixth Ave. Since that assignment, she has revamped lobbies for a roster of clients that includes Time Equities Inc., Kipp/Stawski Group, Taconic Investment Partners and Hearst Corp.

In addition to changing such details as the ash-and-trash bins and adding pedestals for distinctive flower arrangements, Ms. Sokolski is also planning to overhaul several of the lobbies in Steve Green's 20-plus building portfolio.

For example, at 711 Third Ave., which has various colors of marble on floors and walls, she's going to simplify and go with a single finish to play up the distinctive Hans Hofmann mosaic that adorns the elevator banks.

In her lobby designs, Ms. Sokolski tries to avoid trendy architectural styling of the moment because it winds up looking dated within a few years.

"The buildings will tell you exactly what to do if you have half a brain and will listen," she says.

Square Deal

Getty Images Inc., the world's largest photo and film archive, has put an entire 73,000-square-foot floor of downtown's 1 Hudson Square up for sublet at an asking rent in the mid-$50s a square foot.

In the summer, the Seattle-based company rented a total of a quarter-million square feet of space from landlord Trinity Real Estate on three floors of the former industrial building and at properties across Canal Street (Crain's, June 5). It had just made a number of acquisitions and didn't know how much room it would really need.

"They didn't want to be caught short," says James Meiskin, the President of Plymouth Partners, Ltd., who is marketing the sublet.

To make sure it does have enough space on the two floors it will continue to occupy at 1 Hudson Square, Getty just rented an additional 27,000 square feet on one of them.

The Art of Love

Reckson Associates Realty Corp. has a surprise planned for the plaza outside 1350 Sixth Ave., its recently acquired office tower on the southeast corner of West 55th Street. The real estate investment trust is about to unveil a new statue with instant eye appealÜRobert Indiana's bright-red rendition of the word"LOVE."

The artwork is currently hidden in plastic wrap, which will soon be cut away to reveal the world-famous four-letter word.

Not-Too Distant Future

Kramer Dillof Tessel Duffy & Moore is planning to make a short move to 217 Broadway from the nearby Woolworth Building at 233 Broadway.

The law firm, which specializes in medical malpractice cases, rented 11,200 square feet at 217 Broadway. Asking rents are $38 a square foot at the 1915-vintage property, which was built by Vincent Astor.

Murray Hill Properties/TCN acted as the tenant's broker in the deal. Insignia/ESG Inc. represented landlord Columbus Properties.

Bidding for Business

The executive who supervised the construction of Christie's new auction house at Rockefeller Center and the move from Park Avenue is joining Nancy Peck & Co.

Ms. Peck, a co-founder of SL Green Realty Corp., struck out on her own in the spring and started a company to help commercial tenants build new offices and manage their relocation (Crain's, March 13).

Christie's Beverly Lynn Diamond is joining the firm - which has handled $10 million in projects so far and has a couple more cooking - as an Executive Vice President. Her primary responsibility is to bring in new business.