Digitas Health, a digital advertising firm in Philadelphia, is a division of Digitas and a wholly owned subsidiary of the French International Publicis.
The Creative Director had very strong convictions about workspace for creative people. She understood that space is a primary factor in a company’s image and culture. The right space attracts and helps retain the best employees, energizes staff, and encourages creativity. An alternative approach was needed; cubicles would not be welcome here.
The typical employee is young, mostly of the tech savvy, laid back, multitasking, group oriented Generation Y. This generation blends work and social life, does not relate to corporate hierarchies of space, and is more interested in technology and software than in personal privacy or square footage. They don’t like “formal” environments, instead preferring an informal space that can be adapted easily for different activities. The client desired an industrial loft-like aesthetic with mid century influences and a touch of Baroque for drama and whimsy.
The Elevator lobby features a bank of digital projectors that display content made in house by the staff, ranging from loops of vintage TV series to videos of underwater environments. The images and their reflections create a kinetic energy apparent as soon as the elevator door opens.
Free standing white office volumes sit on a highly reflective floor made of recycled plastic under industrial lighting and exposed ductwork. The main client conference room features 12 foot high (3.7-meter-high) red Baroque sliding doors, red rubber-coated seating, and a white glass table that doubles as a write board. A projection screen descends within in the gold frame for client presentations.
The large café area is the heart of the company’s culture, and is used for every type of gathering from client meetings to evening rock and roll performances on the built-in stage. An existing 19th century cast iron stair was restored; backlit with LED panels, and connects to the floor above, where digital imaging studios are housed.
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