Despite being one of them technology companies of Los Angeles, when looking at the images of their offices it seems that they are the offices of a large law firm, a design studio or a service company. Even, following the wake of the “hotelization” of offices, A trend we talked about a couple of months ago, it looks like a luxury hotel due to its finishes, selection of furniture and its air “dramatic style”.
“Let it not look like an office”
Behind this comprehensive reform is the interior design studio MAWD | March and White Design, who designed the company's headquarters focusing on finding the perfect balance between individual and collaborative spaces, through various meeting rooms, connectivity areas, private zones and personalized user itineraries for employees and clients.
The office space, a multi-storey building that adds up 24.000 m2, was strategically designed to foster the employee experience, balancing collaborative spaces with spaces for individual work and concentration. MAWD's design emphasized the diversity of meeting spaces, ranging from small, technology-enabled video conference rooms to boardrooms or informal spaces for collaboration.
One of the main design challenges for MAWD was to conceive a warm, cozy interior and oriented to the hospitality. MAWD used Warm wood and bronze and brass metals, which contrast with the soft fabrics and paint colors used in the project, which distances it from the traditional notion of what a technology office usually is.
Tour for users and visitors
The project establishes two itineraries user experience, optimizing the spatial experience for both customers and employees. Adapting the route to these two distinct groups allowed for maximizing the total surface area while meeting the needs of campus residents and guests.
The staff are derived from the lobby towards the work and service floors, while the Clients They are guided from the entrance to the demo studios, where they can explore the company's software and receive training on it.
collaborative spaces
Designed for the post-pandemic tech worker, MAWD worked closely with the project architects to prioritize collaborative spaces, allocating an entire floor to meeting spaces. To do so, employee surveys were conducted to engage in the spatial planning of the office. What sets these spaces apart collaboration spacesn is the great variety of typologies that were created. There are Meeting rooms smaller ones with technology for groups of two or three people to make a quick video conference call. There are meeting rooms formal meetings for managers and middle managers. For informal meetings, MAWD designed flexible spaces with comfortable sofas, providing the perfect backdrop for creative team activities.
Connectivity for all
Beyond mere collaboration, a design was developed for a campus in which priority was given to connectivity between employees. A was introduced new connecting staircase between the main work floors, clad in wood and glass not only to connect the spaces, but to add transparency and visibility within the office. The luminaires, which seem to «balloons of light», They float down the staircase, visible from several floors. The meeting rooms above the stairwell provide a view of the stairwell, illuminated by these light-filled vessels.
Individual spaces
While collaboration and connectivity are key, there is also a plan to ensure that employees have their share of privacy, giving priority to spaces for the concentration and in-depth work. The telephone booths and work areas have been tailor-made to fit the design profile of the office. In addition, special floors have been created for teams that require greater concentration, such as the floors dedicated to engineering, which have been designed with greater privacy and flexibility to minimize distractions. Collaboration spaces were carefully designed with walls movable, which can be added and removed to facilitate small to larger group meetings.
Design and environmental impact
The project proposed a comprehensive reform of the existing building, so it was recovered many materials and also original elements. For example, the old carpet was removed to reveal the original concrete floor, which was polished and left visible. This, along with the exposed ceilings, provides a technological and industrial backdrop. Likewise, work was done with local artisans for the realization of the luminaires decorative. As for the carpentry, was commissioned to a cabinetmaker in Los Angeles, who opted for the walnut wood, which appears especially on the main staircase.
Environmental considerations include: LEED accessories and smart lighting, The MAWD team used sensors to take advantage of natural light, while minimizing the use of interior lighting on bright, sunny days. As for the furniture, local suppliers were used to equip both the work and leisure areas. The level of sophistication and comfort was a priority for the MAWD team, who wanted to create a comfortable and warm workplace. sofas large size along with a wide variety of chairs and seats so that employees could find their favorite workplace in the office lounges.
Photography: Ryan Gobuty, Adam Potts, images courtesy of MAWD. Via OfficeSnapShots
