Contract - April 2010 - (Page 39)

movable, custom-designed, steel-framed glass panels, the room easily can be reconfigured to serve as a small or large central meeting space. And thanks to the innovative truss structure that supports the panels, it also can morph into a gallery/exhibition area, an assembly hall, or an event space in any number of configurations to suit different functions. “It really works,” says Haga. “We use it every day for meetings between four to eight people, and the other night we accommodated a film screening for a group of 100 with nominal set-up time.” The clear panels also double as display walls for site plans and drawings of the firm’s work. Flexibility was essential in the workspace areas. “We wanted the employees to have a sense of place, but we also wanted to be able to move people around to work in different teams in about 30 minutes to an hour,” says Haga. To create a fluid yet supportive work area, the architects developed a series of 15-ft.-long worktables and benches using Knoll’s Autostrada system. “The client wanted to use space efficiently, but didn’t want the benches to be too long or have work areas feel like a factory,” says Michielli, “so we limited the number of people working at each table to six and used a frosted-glass, 18-in.-high divider along the length of the table to separate employees from the person sitting across from them. We also created custom millwork shelves made from sustainable-grade plywood at the end of each unit for each group to share.” While adapting to the acoustical distraction of a wide-open office has been a challenge for some of the employees, acknowledges Haga, custom touches, such as the shelves and breakout areas, elevate the overall ambience and create “a sense of place” that enriches the work environment Awarded LEED Gold rating, the office incorporates a wide range of additional sustainable design features and materials, including a new energy-efficient mechanical system on the roof, low-VOC paints, a composting and recycling center, motion-activated light controls, and work surfaces made from recycled materials among other elements. “It’s important for both our employees and our clients to feel that our space connects with our values and our work. Balancing good design and flexibility against sustainability and comfort is a challenge,” says Haga. “And we feel the designers created a space that’s a 100 percent home run.” www.contractdesign.com contract april 2010 39 http://www.contractdesign.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - April 2010

Contract - April 2010
Contents
Editor's Note
Industry
Resources: The Green Scene
Focus: Land of Opportunity
Green: Post-Occupancy Green
Practice: Legal Green
Lean & Green
Environmental Extraordinaire
Above the Legal Limit
Informing the Masses
Luxury in the Raw
Designers Rate: Green Products
Process: Science in the Age of the Invisible
Sources
Ad Index
Perspectives

Contract - April 2010