Our client entrusted us with a clear vision, and we worked hard to articulate that into a design that captured the essence of who they aspire to be.
Washington, DC (PRWEB) December 09, 2014
Demonstrating the creativity and forward-thinking of OTJ Architects, the architecture and interior design firm received the Award of Excellence for a confidential technology company office at the Best of NAIOP Northern Virginia Awards banquet held at the Ritz-Carlton in Tyson’s Corner, VA. According to NAIOP, the ceremony “was an opportunity to celebrate significant new and renovated contributions to Northern Virginia by the commercial, industrial and mixed-use real estate community.”
Brett Hartle, OTJ’s Senior Project Manager/Architect on the technology company’s project, accepted the award on OTJ Architects’ behalf. Additional team members included Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. and DPR Construction.
The tech firm, comprised of 22,173 SF, had a design concept aimed at creating an invigorating, open-plan space to inspire collaboration, fostering an enriching employee experience and embodying the client’s ethos of creativity and innovation. Special attention was paid to meshing the company’s culture into the design to allow for recruitment and retention of the best and brightest employees.
“The most enjoyable part about this project was working with our client to explore new ways to think about collaborative work space that fosters bold, creative and innovative thinking in the digital arena,” Hartle said. “Our client entrusted us with a clear vision, and we worked hard to articulate that into a design that captured the essence of who they aspire to be.”
Through various types and sizes of scrum gathering areas, meeting spaces and huddle rooms, employees have the flexibility to choose where and how to work. A “hot house” was created where three teams could expand and contract to support different meeting sizes and the desired collaborative environment. Mobile benching stations and expanded floor outlets allow for maximum growth and occupancy.
Since the company conducts product research and development, incorporating technology was a key design driver. Appropriate security and anonymity were required for visitors invited to the space to test products.
The open plan also required deliberate visual and acoustical privacy solutions by integrating quiet “pods” and hard walled phone rooms. Each pod features video teleconferencing, custom barn doors and writeable surfaces integrated into the wood slats. They are also fully enclosed above for acoustical privacy. Additionally, ceiling clouds absorb noise pollution while ambient music plays as opposed to white noise. Directly adjacent to each pod is a scrum area with integrated technology in the table and monitors mounted outside the pod.
Bringing the outdoors inside, a dual-side green wall is featured in reception and adjacent to the designer’s studio. The designer’s studio doubles as a workspace and display area with movable millwork, collapsible glass partitions and integrated technology, once again reinforcing the flexibility of the office.
“We specifically blurred the lines between work space and social gathering space that provide a workplace comfortable to a new generation of digital workers,” Hartle said. “The success of this department’s renovation has now become the design paradigm of innovative and collaborative workspace within the organization’s digital group as it is constantly evolving to stay ahead of the curve.”
In addition to this project’s award recognition, OTJ was also a team member on the DesignLab – Crystal City project that won Vornado/Charles E. Smith an Award of Excellence in the Best Project Marketing category.
Contact OTJ Architects to discuss your architectural needs today.
About OTJ Architects
OTJ Architects is a well-respected national interior architecture design firm that has successfully completed thousands of projects throughout the country. Founded in 1990, OTJ is comprised of five studios headquartered in Washington, DC, with more than 60 architects and designers, many of whom are LEED Accredited Professionals. OTJ is registered in 37 states and is able to consult in all 50 states. The responsive interior architecture consultants create effective environments through listening, understanding and tailored design. These designs focus on helping clients enhance collaboration, company branding and employee recruitment and retention. OTJ’s design teams provide clients with personalized attention to create workplace solutions that reflect their unique, individual needs. For more information visit otj.com.