There is a cultural movement underway — people are seeking out more informal, inspiring and flexible workspaces to get their work done. The Steelcase Global Report: Engagement and the Global Workplace shows a positive correlation between highly engaged employees and satisfaction with their work environment. This is leading to more human-centered workplace design with purposefully-crafted spaces that combine design, materiality and performance.
This is an installment in our series of interviews with architects and designers about this evolution of the workplace. Jim Halloran, principal designer with HOK, and his team worked with a global transportation, e-commerce and business solutions provider to design their office headquarters in Plano, Texas. Jim agreed to share the behind-the-scenes story of this project with 360.
360: HOK uses design to enrich people’s lives and help organizations succeed. Tell us how you approach new projects using this HOK mindset.
Jim: We need understand how the client’s organization works because each client has unique requirements. We start the design process with a very clear process of visioning. We engage a variety of people from within the organization, and ask them to share what works now and what doesn’t. We also explore how they see the needs of their workplace being able to enhance the functions of their organization. We work hard to make each environment unique and a reflection of their business.
360: Your team helped this organization transition from a space with silos and clusters to something much more open and collaborative environment. Can you tell us about the town centers you implemented and why this was a key goal of the project?
Jim: Our challenge was to bring two groups within the office team together under the same roof for the first time, in addition to bringing the team together into larger consolidated floor plans. The organization wanted the team members to get to know each other better and engage more frequently in aless formal space. We celebrated that idea by creating a beautiful stairway which serves a dual purpose. It accesses each group’s town center and encourages natural interactions. People are greeted by a playful lounge and coffee area on each floor upon leaving the staircase. The team centralized the large conference spaces around this area providing pre- and post-meeting spaces as well as informal meeting spots. Each floor has its own design personality, but still has the thread of the company’s brand woven into the design.