As a unique business unit within a large global organization, this client saw their relocation into a new space in Austin as an opportunity to redefine their typical global workplace standards. In addition, the majority of the department’s leadership, relatively new to the company, came from competitive software companies and wanted to make a bold statement with this project by creating an environment that would attract top level software engineers. A brand new, wide open shell office space in an office park in north Austin served as a “blank slate” for the design team. The building’s 22’ ceiling heights afforded the opportunity to take full advantage of the volume of the space. In the middle of the 200+ workstations is the 4,000-square-foot “Oasis,” a multi-use space with vending, gaming, and a variety of soft seating that serves as a relaxing, informal meeting. In addition, the new space features a workout facility with showers, a 60-person multi-function/training room, and 8 small team rooms for groups of 4-6 people to collaborate. The project has become an evolutionary prototype for the organization. The project was essentially conceived “backwards,” with the modeling and interior renderings driving the space planning to expedite decision making. The design team’s ability to quickly generate multiple 3D visualizations enabled them to achieve consensus among several geographically dispersed stakeholders regarding the overall design direction. To better serve the client, the local Austin design team also leveraged the firm’s global workplace expertise by reaching out to multiple other offices for their input on the project. In spite of deviating from standards previously developed by the design firm, the team was able to respond quickly with a new prototype that not only accommodates the new user’s needs, but remains flexible enough for future implementation at other business unit sites worldwide.
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