The clients, an accounting firm, had occupied their current office space for twenty-five years. Their existing space was extremely outdated and very “private office oriented” creating a maze of corridors. Once they determined to relocate offices, they also decided to adjust their workplace culture. The private office to workstation ratio became 1/3 private offices to 2/3 open workstations. This allowed the plan to develop open areas rather than corridors. Because of the confidential nature of their business, they wanted a strong sense of public vs. private zones.
Due to the client’s program, the general sensibility of the scheme is traditional in that it separates areas with clear boundaries yet creates open spaces. Conceptually, the initial idea was to create a strong public area made up of a reception space and three conference rooms. Enclosing the conference rooms with glass created extended vistas in multiple directions when entering the space. When arriving on their multi tenant floor, exterior views are exposed through the conference room and reception space directly to the elevator lobby. Daylight is delivered deep into the reception area. Full height sheer curtains create privacy in conference rooms if needed, while diffusing the view and still allowing natural light throughout.
Private offices have floor to ceiling glass fronts, in combination with full height doors. The glazing units are made of a top and bottom 24” clear panel with a white interlayer panel screen within clear aluminum frames. The clear panels allow spaces to expand into one another while the white screen creates privacy. This glass combination allows natural light to penetrate the interior spaces. Lowered gypsum ceilings with slot downlights define public circulation zones while acoustic tile ceilings with indirect lighting define workstation areas. Dark ceiling slots further define the separation of areas.
Full height rift cut white oak doors help accentuate the height of the space. The color palette is limited to white walls and ceilings, grey carpet, white oak, and strategically placed blue venetian plaster accent walls. Workstation and private office furniture is a combination of black, silver and white surfaces. Open workstation panels are topped with either translucent glass or storage boxes that allow filtered extended views. Custom designed furniture including the reception desk, conference tables, credenzas, and miscellaneous millwork repeat the rift cut white oak used on the doors.