Commercial Architecture May 2019 - 13

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FEATURE

| offices

Sometimes Open Plan Is The Only Solution
O

pen offices are more than just a trend, for a

styles. At NextCorps, incubator tenants have a variety

variety of reasons. For one, open-plan settings

of workspaces to choose from, depending on their

allow the kind of flexible programming that clients

needs and the size of their business. This ranges

find crucial in today's agile workplace culture. Just as

from open-plan workspace, individual private offices,

important, greater interest in renovation, repositioning,

private office suites (small, medium, and large) and

and conversion projects is driving the creation of new

private wet labs.

workplaces within historic or landmark properties-in

From a design perspective, the emphasis on

some cases, an open-plan design is the only possible

increased choice in the workplace also leads design and

solution for these unique spaces.

development teams to include more and better tenant-

For example, The Architectural Team Inc. (TAT),

focused amenity spaces. In many of our workplace and

Chelsea, MA, recently completed a new headquarters

interiors projects, we're integrating more social spaces

in downtown Rochester, NY, for business incubator

for down time, creating community, and encouraging

NextCorps. Located on the sixth floor of the historic
1-million-plus-sq.-ft.

Sibley

Square

structure-a

former department store, whose renovation the firm is
also leading-the NextCorps space includes a large
landmarked "Tea Room," where the design team was
bound by strict historic preservation standards and
could not create any new structural elements. An

Above. The Architectural Team (TAT) recently completed a new headquarters in downtown Rochester, NY, for business incubator NextCorps. Located on the sixth floor of the historic 1-million-plus-sq.-ft. Sibley Square-a
former department store, whose renovation the firm is also leading-the
design team was bound by strict historic preservation standards and could
not create any new structural elements. An open-plan design was the best
possible solution. Photo: Christian Scully, courtesy The Architectural Team

socialization, and casual collaboration. For example,
an outdoor roof deck, open kitchen and café spaces,
and game areas with pool and ping-pong tables, were
linchpin elements of our NextCorps program. Another
trending discussion in workplace design is the need for
more family space, children's play areas, and lactation
rooms and sleep rooms.

open-plan design was the best-possible solution. The

The rise in remote working, co-working, and

TAT team used configurable benching workstations,

freelancing will definitely impact the look of office

freestanding conference pods, and privacy pods to
create zones of work, lounge, and meeting areas within
a space that allowed no new-built elements.
The NextCorps example demonstrates that when

Below. The Architectural Team (TAT) designed Alexan 3 North, a 178-unit,
three-building multi-family residential development in a suburban setting
about 30 minutes outside Boston, to include areas specifically to serve
remote workers or freelance tenants- reservable conference rooms, open
benching systems, and privacy booths. Photo: ©Andy Ryan, courtesy TAT

space-and not just in commercial workplace settings.
On the one hand, traditional office spaces will have to
become more flexible and adaptable as the workforce
itself becomes more flexible. At NextCorps, for instance,

it comes to open offices, designers are compelled to

incubator tenants set their own work policies, and the

employ innovative and clever means of devising settings

tenant mix will change over time. TAT's design solution

that truly function as effective workplaces.

accounts for this with easily reconfigurable bench

Privacy is often a concern, and successful

workstations, flooring and lighting patterns that are not

strategies include creating visual privacy with custom

tied to specific layouts, and a neutral color palette that

glazing for conference rooms, specifying high-backed

creates a basic level of visual unity, making it easier to

desking and furnishings, and enhancing acoustical

alter specific elements as needs evolve and shift.

privacy with a number of design features-including

On the other hand, tomorrow's office will also

an applied acoustical wall-panel product in the Media

continue to extend outside the boundaries of

Room, and partitions with high acoustic ratings that

commercial settings and will be incorporated, for

separate key uses, such as the lab equipment room and

example, into multifamily residential communities.

the adjacent office suite.

The Architectural Team is seeing this in a number

For many employers and organizations, the concept

of the firm's recent multifamily projects. A good case
Bringing everyone under the same roof enables

study is Alexan 3 North, a 178-unit, three-building

work-is even more important in today's world. Designing

NextCorps to better attract entrepreneur tenants. The

development in a suburban setting about 30 minutes outside

workplaces that facilitate collaboration and provide shared

new space is purpose-built to foster interaction and

Boston. In addition to more traditional amenity spaces

access to resources is crucial. In fact, this need was

enhance collaboration, providing high-tech entrepreneurs

such as a shared kitchen, fitness center, and game room,

a primary driver for the NextCorps organization's move

better access to the tools they need to grow their

key elements of our interior design program also included

to a large, 48,000-sq.-ft. space in downtown Rochester.

businesses-from lab and maker spaces, to meeting

areas specifically designed for people working at home-

Previously, the NextCorps leadership and administrators

areas and auditoriums for events, to dedicated space for

reservable conference rooms, open benching systems,

worked in an office park on the outskirts of the city. Moving

onsite mentoring, legal, financial, accounting, networking,

and privacy booths. TAT's recent projects for AvalonBay

their headquarters and incubator spaces into a single,

business-plan development, and marketing services.

Communities in Sudbury, MA, include a similar set of work-

of an office-a place where people come together to

dedicated facility allows the organization's leaders to

Similarly, designing a successful workplace also means

focused amenities. - Kate MacAulay, NCIDQ, interior

be in the same space as the entrepreneurs whose work

designing for choice, so employees or tenants have access

designer and project manager, The Architectural Team Inc.

NextCorps supports.

to a variety of spaces that suit different work needs and

(TAT), Chelsea, MA

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