Arup’s new satellite office in downtown Los Angeles provides a flexible and occasional work environment that follows the activity-based working (ABW) model. An activity-based workplace decreases dependency on conventional dedicated-desk layouts, instead substituting a variety of nuanced and non-territorial work spaces ranging from individual quiet areas, to discrete meeting and workshop rooms, informal collaboration areas, and casual lounges.
Even in a paperless environment, drawings and models for complex projects need to be seen at a relatively large scale. For Arup, Zago Architecture has provided desk surfaces at multiple heights to accommodate both standing and seated work, as well as extensive erasable wall surfaces with projectors and teleconferencing. Privacy is provided not by cubicle walls, but through the placement of large furniture/storage pieces which support the various working and sitting surfaces. This new office environment fosters collaboration and creativity in its users and signals a progressive spirit within the company.
All photos courtesy Joshua White.