The property selected for the new office is located on 21st street in the urban northwest quadrant of Washington within four blocks of three of Washington’s Metro lines and many bus routes, allowing most office staff to use public transportation in commuting to work. The building was selected both for public transportation benefits and for the building’s mechanical system as it allows for localized control of units, providing staff control of their workspace temperature.
The office layout delineates clear zones of operation based on the client’s programming requirements. Visitors entering the suite experience a clear sense of arrival. Support spaces frequented most often by visitors (meeting spaces, restrooms, marketing, and management offices) are co-located near the reception area. The primary circulation route encircles the building’s core and support areas while leading traffic from the more formal areas of the suite, through the design studios, and back again to the point of arrival. The majority of staff is located near windows to benefit from natural daylight.
The entrance is defined by a wood and glass serpentine wall that connects the reception area to conference rooms, design studios, and office management staff. Translucent glazing provides surface texture at portions of the wall and allows daylight to filter through conference spaces to interior areas of the suite while maintaining visual privacy. The serpentine form of the focus wall is supported by similar movements in the floor and ceiling.
Providing space for more than half of the office’s staff, the design studios are located along the west side of the building and provide access to afternoon daylight. The studio area ceilings are open and a series of suspended baffles screen general views of building systems while allowing a greater sense of volume within the work areas. Translucent glass wall systems provide privacy for department supervisors while allowing daylight to penetrate the interior spaces. Warm reds, olives, and taupes provide natural accents within a neutral palette of colors designed to accentuate light reflectance across most interior surfaces.
The majority of the LEED certification will be achieved by the material selections. Materials such as gypsum board, ceiling tile, and carpet were selected because of their high recycled content. The systems furniture and general seating, manufactured by Herman Miller, contains large amounts of recycled materials. Wheatboard, a rapidly renewable material, was specified for the studio’s ceiling baffles and for furniture worksurfaces. Adhesives, paints and carpet selections all have low VOC content. The contractor was required to redirect waste from landfills and to adhere to an air quality plan.
Since the recent occupancy of the space, the designers continue to work toward LEED certification. The final application will be submitted once all documentation is received from the contractor. |
