Project Description
This project was selected as a Merit winner in ARCHITECT’s 2024 Architecture & Interiors Awards, Architecture: Office Building category.
“It’s a really nice office interior, and it feels like a good neighbor in the neighborhood. I also liked that they preserved the continuity of the streetscape and the existing building, and the contrast of all the exposed concrete with some of the more refined woodwork elements.” –Juror Brooke Horan
To support recent growth and align with their mission of creating community-oriented, place-based environments, this architecture firm undertook a comprehensive renovation of their 1920s-era office building. Emphasizing sustainability, they expanded the office through strategic renovation instead of an addition, focusing on human and environmental health by incorporating connections to nature.
Instead of adding to the historic building, the design team deconstructed the adjacent parking garage to create a vibrant outdoor courtyard. The historic façade of the former garage was preserved and reinforced to maintain the urban scale and streetscape. A new pedestrian gate replaces the former garage doors, welcoming employees and visitors into this shaded urban oasis. The courtyard now extends the office space, providing a natural setting for various work, community, and social interactions.
Expansive doors connect the courtyard to the ground level, where the floor plan has been opened up to create spacious gathering areas. In the reception area, a mix of vintage and custom furniture, along with significant pieces by regional artists, are on display. Just beyond this area, the communal kitchen is designed to accommodate diverse social and educational activities.
The workspaces occupying the remaining three floors highlight the building’s robust and rhythmic concrete structure, complemented by an elemental palette of wood, steel, and glass. These spaces are designed to meet the dynamic and evolving needs of contemporary offices, offering a variety of spatial typologies.