CONTEXT

Accommodating the needs of a 24-hour modern workplace requires design solutions that strive for advancement and evolution in architecture. For this project, the design team was challenged to build upon the tech culture of the client while enhancing corporate identity. The management relies on a family-like atmosphere--with a strong focus on positive daily interactions--to promote a high level of trust among the diverse staff composed of approximately 50 people. For its new headquarters, this tech organization sought an innovative, environmentally-friendly design that both accommodated required services and encouraged wellness in the workplace.

CONCEPT

The primary concepts of the design are centered around Social Ecosystems and the Modern-Casual Workplace, and the architectural intersections of these precepts with the Community Story. This model depends upon the provision of both structured and non-structured places of exchange to foster strong interpersonal relationships, promote productivity, and speak to the communal corporate environment. A variety of workspace options are incorporated into the design, be it a private office, lounge with soft seating, exterior recreation area, or “activated zones” that encourage impromptu communications.

SOLUTION

The campus-like structure engages the landscape on a two-acre wooded site in Longwood, Florida. At the center, the 9,000-square foot headquarters building transforms a straightforward and efficient system—the pre-engineered metal structure—into a spatial experience with a modern aesthetic. The expansive sense of volume extends the full length of the interior, which is organized into three primary areas: warehouse, workplace, and community spaces. The interior workplace is further divided into two areas of open office areas situated across from private, enclosed offices. This collaborative system enhances face-to-face interactions while also providing sequestered spaces for meetings and individual work. The structural system of the building is exposed on the interior and penetrates the exterior envelope to create shaded areas and conceptually bridge the indoors and outdoors. Throughout the building, the façade is opened and broken-up with either storefront glazing or punched openings to fully illuminate the interior with natural light. The building’s principle façade connects to a projecting solar canopy, composed of glass photo-voltaic panels, which generate low-cost electricity in all weather conditions.