Contract Magazine - October 2017 - 63

Dropped ceilings from a
previous tenant were stripped
away to reveal the building's
original concrete waffle slab,
which is accentuated by
recessed LEDs in the IDEA
Studio (above) and an informal
meeting area (opposite, top).
The employees primarily
work at open Herman Miller
workstations (opposite,
bottom), and a few glassenclosed offices are along one
wall (opposite, bottom). In the
pantry (above, right), floralpatterned Tarkett Collections
Infinies flooring designed
by 2x4 adds a dash of color
and whimsy.

the original concrete waffle slab overhead, adding a sense of
tactility and depth as well as "light echoes of Brutalism," says Heiser.
The waffle slab is just one of the orthogonal grids relating
to the city's street plan seen throughout the interior. A depiction
of the 1909 Plan of Chicago by Daniel Burnham and Edward H. Bennett
is custom printed on a retractable wallcovering behind a reception
desk of burnt maple and leather that obliquely references the Great
Chicago Fire of 1871. Another grid manifests underfoot: A mosaic
by Sicis features a dynamic black-and-white starburst of square pixels
that Heiser likens to a smashed disco ball. Above, a bulbous chandelier
by Lindsey Adelman adds another layer of whimsy to the entry
sequence, which leads to a long sectional sofa and a vintage
shelving unit by George Nelson alongside the window wall.
From the reception area, the plan is clear: Areas for meetings
and large gatherings are on the southern portion of the floor and
workspaces for the 25 staff take up the northern half of the office.
With only a few enclosed offices, the majority of the employees work
in an open layout at Herman Miller sit-stand desks. The IDEA Studio,
an event space that occupies about one-third of the headquarters,
is the most visible synthesis of creative studio flexibility and
institutional meeting space. Available to outside organizations,
the studio can host seminars, presentations, training sessions,
and large meetings.
Cultivating domestic eclecticism
Along the western window wall-spanning from the IDEA Studio
to the open work area-a 15-foot-wide "boulevard" walkway connects
the length of the interior. Both formal meetings rooms and informal
seating areas line this boulevard, which was designed by Heiser with
an eye towards simulating domestic eclecticism. The placement of
furnishings along the walkway "looks pretty free flowing, but in general
the space is quite rigid in terms of where we placed things," he says.

"We wanted those spaces to be minimal, but heavily layered-
to be about the right product for the space."
Defined by beautiful rugs, the seating areas include classic
Herman Miller furnishings-such as the Womb chair and an
Eames sofa-to instill a consistent, timeless quality. These "instantly
recognizable classics help eliminate any preciousness," says Durst.
Along the boulevard, Durst's own office is a glass-enclosed space
midway between reception and the employee work area. In her highly
public role leading the organization, she chose to have her office centrally
located within the overall plan rather than tucked away in a corner.
Inside her office, Durst eschews the expectations for an executive's
workspace with a highly personalized, cozy interior and a comfortable
sofa for conversations.
Crafting a creative studio in a team effort
As key decisions received extra scrutiny during the design process,
Williamson played an important role as guide and connector. As a
former IIDA international president, he brokered numerous discussions
between Durst, the board of directors, and the Gensler design team.
With one foot planted in both the client's reality and the design team's
aspirations, Williamson described his role as "a bit like a coach on both
sides of the wall." His knowledge enabled the Gensler team to help
the association transform an office of primarily administrative workers
into a creative studio that is similar to the work settings of many
IIDA members, who are architects and designers.
The day-to-day work culture of IIDA employees was top of mind
for Heiser. "We wanted to celebrate the people that come to work every
day-to create a place where these people both felt valued and that
they truly had a mission," he says. "That was an unbelievably important
part of the design-essentially the art and science of the space." c

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