Once inside the building, any resemblance to a metal warehouse disappears completely. A courtyard was cut into the middle of the office area, creating an outdoor amenity space for the employees which also brings light into the interior.  The interior renovation was accomplished with a modern aesthetic, clean lines and the use of natural materials to add warmth to the space. The modern finishes are pulled back at structural intersections to reveal the original steel members. The reception/lobby has terrazzo floors, linear wood wall/ceiling panels and a custom-designed reception desk with decorative light fixtures. Open work station areas have high ceilings in order to gain natural light coming from clerestory windows.  Glass-enclosed, “bubble” conference rooms have been strategically placed on either siding of the building allowing for collaboration areas, and also possess the ability to be deconstructed and moved to allow for future growth.  

A central feature in the building—the open café/lounge—is elevated, and the raised floor accommodates electrical and plumbing systems, thus avoiding expensive saw cutting of the slab. TV monitors are inset in DIRTT walls, and the ceiling features a linear light cove with an accent color.

The client was very supportive of the design team’s sustainable design approach, which included not just the adaptive reuse of an existing building, but also providing employees access to daylight and utilizing modular walls for flexibility.