Rivers Agency hired Szostak Design to upfit an existing 3,400-square-foot space in Chapel Hill’s Greenbridge Building to accommodate their fast growing creative agency. Rivers began as a one-woman firm in 1993 and has since become one of the largest agencies in the Triangle. In addition to more space, the company sought an office design to reflect their collaborative culture.
The main level features an open plan space filled with natural daylight. Modern workstations line the high ceiling space along the exterior window walls. Custom bookcases serve double duty as room dividers and a center work table can be used for meetings and informal work sessions. The main level also includes a reception area, conference room, two executive offices and a kitchen.
To accommodate future growth and a planned staff of 35, a 1,200 square foot mezzanine level was added to the space. On this level are the director’s office, an open work area that overlooks the main level and a small breakout room at the top of the stairs.
The new mezzanine presented a structural challenge as the added weight of the required loft structure was too great for the existing floor, which sits over an underground parking garage. The project team solved this by spanning structural steel between the existing concrete columns to take the load of the mezzanine structure and concrete slab. Heating and cooling of the space is achieved with heat pumps that tie into the building’s central condensate supply system. All lighting in the space is achieved with high efficiency LED fixtures.
On a modest budget, Szostak Design was able to create the look and feel of a high-end space with oak flooring, built-in casework with stone counters, and a custom-made reception desk and center work table.
In 2016 AIA North Carolina recognized this project with a Merit Award for Commercial Design.
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