This engineering office is located within a recently overhauled historic building in a burgeoning urban district. The building itself began operation in 1901 as a manufacturing facility.
Nearly 10,000sf of vibrant work environment for 60 employees is provided, most of which are in an open studio configuration. Where enclosed spaces are required— offices, conference and work rooms, server rooms, kitchenette, and storage—an ‘island’ near the center of the floor plate is created to avoid robbing work areas of natural daylight. Where spaces must touch the perimeter walls, interior walls are comprised of clear glass.
A tectonic expression is adopted throughout as a viable language for an engineering design firm, while complementing the existing industrial character and distinguishing new interventions from the original.
The engineering studio is outfitted with height-adjustable workstations and algorithmically-based color-changing LED lighting that continually adjusts the light color and intensity to mimic natural daylight. Perimeter windows are operable. Heating and cooling is achieved through a decentralized, fluid-based variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system coupled to ground-sourced geothermal. All outlets are split between always-on and power managed. All electrical consumption is offset by the photovoltaic arrays located on the building’s roof and adjacent property.
The firm’s corporate color is utilized as a carved void in the ‘island’ at the reception area. The green acrylic panels and laminated glass provide a bold and immediate delivery of the company brand. One recognizes immediately that this is not a typical engineering company.
2016 AIA Central States Citation Award for Interior Architecture Design Excellence
2015 AIA Iowa Merit Award for Design Excellence
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