Leveraging the city
After the company decided to move its headquarters to a new location following our detailed analysis of its owned and leased buildings, the preferred sites were all mixed-use urban environments. Between the dynamics of downtown and a new collaborative workplace, the company would transform its ways of working and attract and retain employees. Since the company would be the largest tenant in a multi-tenant building not yet built, we joined the base building architect in designing certain key features of the U-shaped building, notably three sky bridges that cross the courtyard below and terminate in three multi-level “town centers.” From the courtyard and street, the interior town centers become the public face of the company through transparent glass facades.
A connected workplace
We organized how the company would occupy the building so that the most desirable locations – the top of the building and the terminus of each bridge overlooking the courtyard – would be the most public. Dining and conference facilities occupy upper floors with access to the roof terrace. The location of town centers and bridges allow the 3,200 employees to stay connected since they can traverse the entire building along this route, encouraging both camaraderie and wellness. The workplace is organized in neighborhoods of workstations bounded by glass-fronted huddle rooms, meeting rooms and a handful of private offices. Open staff pantries with food service and informal seating along the perimeter add to the places people can meet and collaborate.
A smart and efficient workplace
The LEED-Gold workplace is efficient, energy-conscious and smart. Neighborhoods of workstations surrounded by meeting rooms are laid out as a modular kit of parts that can be reorganized without new interior construction. For example, L-shaped workstations can be replaced by bench-style seating without moving data and power connections. Offices and small meeting rooms are the same size. The interiors are also fully automated, with light sensors and automatic window shades for daylight harvesting. Robust audiovisual and broadcast capabilities, digital signage, a room reservation system and integrated computer-aided facility management are important operating features. The interiors have a high degree of security and resiliency to support the company’s public responsibilities.
Meeting Rooms
Meeting Room
Presentation Room
Executive Meeting Room
Work Area
A street map of Washington, DC can be seen in the stairwell
Matt Ligas, AIA, NCIDQ, LEED AP
Principal, Design Practice Leader
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At Michael Graves, we create designs that clients dream of. We care not only about what we create; we care whom we create it for.
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