Contract - December 2016 - 55

A double-height space
(opposite, top left), with
meeting rooms visible on two
floors, has casual seating and
a dramatic steel wall. A granite
fireplace (opposite, top right)
and a second-floor space
adjacent to the showroom with
a larger fireplace (above) allow
for places of respite. Many
prototype elements (opposite,
middle) line a white corridor,
reminding all of the layers of
iteration. A variety of casual
meeting spaces are built
in (opposite, middle right),
and a long work table
(opposite, bottom), in an area
referred to as the war room,
allows for open meetings or
work to be completed.

industrial era. Frames of worn Corten steel,
as architect of record. "Pittsburgh's long history
glass-and-steel walkways, and the natural grain
of cutting-edge production technology, and of
of native hardwoods connect with the local context.
manufacturing the most essential machines of its
"We wanted to bring beauty in basic, functional
age, aligned with Uber's desire to launch and build
its first self-driving vehicle. This idea of marrying the elements by pairing materials in interesting ways
past and future became the design inspiration behind to create a rich experience," Cherry says. "There's
an authenticity of materials reflected in the use
the ATG Center," explains Cherry.
of woods, leather, and steel."
In concert with Uber, Assembly's process was
Unlike a typical technology office, the ATG
a convergence of state-of-the-art robotics design
and futuristic interior design. "Denise and I quickly Center is for builders. The majority of the furniture
was custom-designed with Pittsburgh-based Urban
learned that we had a very compatible vision,"
Tree and Los Angeles-based MASHstudios. Each
Meyhofer says. "She showed me how to make any
idea I had even better. Often, I didn't do anything but grouping of six workstations, extending from the
central space, is adjacent to an informal area and
say, 'Wow, please do that amazing idea that you
two small conference rooms. Workstations feature
have.' She and her team were an inspiration."
enough room among desks and nearby tables to
ensure that each person has an ample work surface
Cathedral to the car
in virtually any direction. The immediacy of the
Uber envisioned the ATG Center as a cathedral to
machine shop and workshop-visible from
the industrial values-hard work, dedication, and
workstations and next to the showroom-
creativity-that are a nod to Pittsburgh's history.
demonstrates that design born from function can
This vision is reflected in the symmetrical plan,
with the showroom at the head of the "central nave," take an elevated, stunning form. In the workshop,
in some ways symbolic of an altar to the autonomous autonomous cars receive finishing touches after
they are engineered and tested. In addition, the
car. Many elements in this central space, including
a granite fireplace and bleached pine stadium seating layout pays homage to Pittsburgh's bridges,
incorporating a mezzanine-level catwalk
for team assemblies, are white or light in color.
Assembly both contrasted and complemented over the nave.
Lighting, including fixtures designed by
the bright white by warming the showroom with
Bec Brittain and Michael Anastassiades, serves
colors and materials associated with Pittsburgh's
contract

Contract - December 2016

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