Ai Inta422 w6 A1 Rotz J

Senior Studio ll INTA422
Week 6 Assignment 1
Pro. Swiertz
Jesse Rotz
4/24/2018
Program Document
Problem Statement:
To design the layout of an office building. The space is an existing 6,000 square foot building shell that needs space
planning to create an office space that meets the client’s needs and provides employee satisfaction. The client is
the manager of the company, Martin’s, who is looking to expand the brand by creating another office building.
Attention to natural lighting, minimalist principles, and contemporary architectural elements and furniture, the
finished product should represent the client’s vision for the space.
Client Profile:
As stated above, the client, Chris Stewart, is the manager of Martin’s and is wanting to expand to another building
to create an office space for his employees to do more marketing work. The goal of this project is to create an
innovative office design that meets the needs of the employees, while providing flexibility of workspace and
minimalist principles throughout. The building will be located in Clarksburg, Maryland.
Client’s Logo:
User Needs & Requirements:

The employees need an open office layout for the main workspace of the building. Natura light should be
provided in this space. There needs to be at least 2 conference rooms for meetings. At least 6 closed office spaces
need to be provided for the executive managers and accounting employees. A café will be designed for the
employees to use on break, as well as, another workspace with Wi-Fi to give another option for working.
Program Document
Spaces Required:
• Main Open Office – 2,000 sf.
• Closed Offices – 150 sf. (6 required)
• Conference Rooms – 250 sf. (2 required)
• Café – 400 sf.
• Storage – 50 sf.
• Restrooms – 250 sf. (includes both men’s and women’s)
• Reception – 300 sf.
• Second Open Office – 1,500 sf.
Total Square Footage Required – 5,900 sf.

Design Concept Statement
The project is an office building for the company, “Milano’s”, and

will be located in Clarksburg, Maryland. The overall feel of the
space will be modern, minimalist, and understated with a focus on
simple forms, clean lines, cool tones, and warm natural light to
create a calm working environment, which will increase employee
productivity.
Preliminary Work
Minimalism
Understated
Modernism
Figure 1
Clean
Figure 5
Figure 3
Light
Simple
Figure 2 Figure 4
Part 1 (Sketches & Images – 1st Concept)
The first concept design will feature industrial materials that
work in harmony with the exterior design of the building.
The spaces will utilize concrete throughout, with rustic
wood accents and glass to bring natural light in and add
visual interest with the use of printed designs in the glass.
Figure 1
Reception Desk Design

Figure 3
Figure 2
Stair Design
Figure 4
Part 1 (Sketches & Images – 2nd Concept)
The second design concept focuses on
more refined materials, such as, marble,
lacquer, polished metals, glass, and light
wood.
Reception Desk Design

Figure 5
Figure 7
Reception Accent Wall

Figure 6 Figure 8
Part 2 (Cost Estimation & Gantt Chart)
Construction Cost Estimation: $1,751,449.14
Gantt Chart
3/20/18 3/28/18 4/4/18 4/11/18 4/18/18 4/24/18
Developing the Project (3/28)

Design Concept Statement (3/28)
Developing the Design (3/31)
Initial Schematics (4/4)
Schematics Design Phase (4/7)
Professional Review (4/11)
Design Development (4/14)
FF&E (4/18)
Project Presentation (4/21)
Client Presentation (4/24)
Organizational Chart
President/CEO
Chris Stewart
Executive Secretary
Mary Johnson
Vice President of Sales Vice President of Vice President of

John Lewis Accounting Marketing
George Futrell Nick Amon
Sales Employee Sales Employee

Sarah Laurence Aaron Bartley Acc. Employee Acc. Employee Marketing Employee Marketing Employee
Keith Newson Kenneth Johnson Kiara Hoffeditz Liam Newman
Jessica Lee Abby Martin Acc. Employee Acc. Employee Marketing Employee Marketing Employee
Bart Libman Brittany Gossert Diane Miller Valerie Merriman
Rebecca Li Stewart Rohe Acc. Employee Acc. Employee Marketing Employee Marketing Employee
Ryan Thompson Kenton Liam Sharon Eshleman Heather Fisher
Kayla Louis Curtis George Acc. Employee Acc. Employee Marketing Employee Marketing Employee
Jennifer Lehman Brian Morgan Leah Shaffer Zachary Alan
Kimberly Elle Chris Bedford Acc. Employee Acc. Employee Marketing Employee Marketing Employee
Jesse Ransom Chad Turner Jared Gilbert Rafael Rivera
Design Parti
Front Entrance Door Design
Stair Tower Design
Reception Plan View

Adjacency Matrix
Bubble Diagram #1
Cl. Off.
Cl. Off.
Conf. 2nd Open Office Conf.

Cl. Off.
Cl. Off.
Stor. Cl. Off.

Cl. Off.
Restrooms
Café Main Open Office
Key
Immediate
Adjacency
Reception
Public
Private
Acoustic Control
Daylight/views
Bubble Diagram #2
Cl. Off.
Cl. Off.
Conf. Cl. Off.

Cl. Off.
Restrooms
Cl. Off.
Cl. Off.
Conf.
Café Main Open Office Stor.
2nd Open Office
Key
Immediate
Adjacency
Reception
Public
Private
Acoustic Control
Daylight/views
Bubble Diagram #3
Cl. Off. Conf.

Restrooms
Café
Cl. Off. Cl. Off.
Cl. Off. Cl. Off.

Stor.
2nd Open Office Cl. Off.

Conf. Main Open Office
Key
Immediate
Adjacency
Reception
Public
Private
Acoustic Control
Daylight/views
Bubble Diagram #4
Conf.
Café Main Open Office 2nd Open Office

Cl. Off.
Cl. Off. Cl. Off.

Conf.
Stor.
Cl. Off.
Cl. Off.
Reception
Restrooms
Cl. Off.
Key
Immediate
Adjacency
Public
Private
Acoustic Control
Daylight/views
Bubble Diagram #5
Café
Conf. Conf.
Stor.
Restrooms
Cl. Off.
2nd Open Office
Cl. Off.
Cl. Off. Cl. Off.
Cl. Off.
Main Open Office
Reception Key
Immediate
Adjacency
Cl. Off. Public
Private
Acoustic Control
Daylight/views
Bubble Diagram #6
Reception
Cl. Off.
Cl. Off.
Cl. Off.
Stor.
2nd Open Office
Cl. Off.
Conf.
Main Open Office
Restrooms
Café
Cl. Off.
Conf. Key
Cl. Off. Immediate
Adjacency
Public
Private
Acoustic Control
Daylight/views
Block Diagram #1
Block Diagram #2
Block Diagram #3
Circulation Study #1
Legend:
Public Access Areas
Private Access Areas
Path of Travel
Means of Egress
Legend:
Public Access Areas
Path of Travel
Means of Egress
Legend:
Public Access Areas
Path of Travel
Means of Egress
Color Palette
Figure 1
Figure 2
Mentor Critique
The following is the critique provided by my mentor, Lori Hewitt:
Floor Plans – “The third plan worked best from my perspective and have attached some suggestions to that particular plan. Because I am not working
from scale, do I know what are walls or flooring and ceiling conditions, these are general considerations” (Hewitt, 2018). The image below shows what
Lori was thinking in terms of revising the third block diagram option.
Mentor Critique
Sketches & Images – “I immediately responded to your reception wall. I think you can eliminate the floating shelf. As for the company name/logo,
make it more dynamic by engaging it in the floor design (or ceiling) by way of extension. Perhaps the ‘M’ is both enlarged and recessed in the
company color (painted/lit) and the other lettering is raised on the surface. Continue the letter out onto the floor. The ‘M’ at the entry floor references
in the ‘design parti’ may not be necessary. The flooring can be something poured like travertine or concrete. There is an opportunity to consider
patterns inlaid metal spacers or color. Tie-in/coordinate this color back in the furniture upholstery. Something stylized like this may negate the necessity
for the repeat of the ‘M’ in the reception desk and allow it to be a beautiful element as your sample image showed. Perhaps there is an opportunity to
bring in the ‘M’ at an outside corner of the core element found at the building center... A large capital "M" in the company color that wraps the corner
or a large, painted circle with the ‘M’ being negative space.
I think that introducing reclaimed wood into this space will prevent this space from feeling too stark. At the stair tower, from a practical standpoint, I
wonder if people get snagged on the reclaimed wood. Also, it is a material that you may want to consider incorporating elsewhere, allowing for
greater appreciation of its use and visual impact in this environment. Both visually and budget-wise this may prove to be a better value. If you pull back
on that, you can really begin to appreciate the etched glass at the handrail against the backdrop of something a little ‘more quiet’” (Hewitt, 2018).
Design Parti – “I really like the correlation between the ‘M’ of the logo and the structural stair tower element. Would you consider a rusted or graphite
steel stair trusses? I think that this will add a striking contrast if you choose to continue the use of lighter palette at this location. The light finishes will read
as crisp against and as people circulate through the tower during the day, they will read this strong graphic, structural element. If it is lighter in finish, it
may blend. Further, at night this is stair tower will have a similar read to the experience of people in the tower during the day as from cars as they pass.
Color Palette & Materials – “I really like the clean, slick aesthetic. I would imagine that these decisions were a reflection of this being a tech company
(you likened to Apple) that produces cutting-edge technology in streamlined package that offers greater appeal to the end-user. A few thoughts
come to mind...
There is a balance that needs to be struck when designing for a corporate client. In anticipation of receiving guest into your space, there is an
impression to be made that speaks to their corporate identity and industry. On the other side of that is considering the experience of those who spend
their days in that space and the type of work they do.
Generally, speaking, I think that the space will be much like a gallery allowing for each element, whether an architectural finish or structural to really
shine while remaining integrated. I wanted to know what you are thinking in terms of furnishing finishes/upholstery and lighting? When I think tech, I think
of the type of people who execute the architecting of the design. They, generally, are not ‘buttoned up’ individuals; they are typically more relaxed
and casual though meticulous about their work” (Hewitt, 2018).
Mentor Critique
After discussing the possible manufacturers for this project, I have decided on these three manufacturers for the furniture of this space:
1. Knoll – This manufacturer is known for creating sleek, modern furniture pieces that look like they could belong in a residential application, but
function like a commercial piece. This is why I have chosen this manufacturer. < https://www.knoll.com/design-plan/products/by-brand/knoll-office
>
2. Steelcase – This manufacturer produces a lot of office furniture, which is perfect for my project. The pieces are also quite simplistic and modern in
design. Steelcase is producing more and more flexible furniture pieces for the office environment, and this is what I am wanting for my design as
well. < https://www.steelcase.com/ >
3. Herman Miller – This manufacturer designs office furniture as well, and the products have very clean lines and flexibility. These products are simple,
yet durable, which is crucial for the office environment. < http://store.hermanmiller.com/home?lang=en_US >
Furniture Plan
A1
FURNITURE PLAN
SCALE: 1/16” = 1’-0”
Preliminary Ceiling & Lighting Plan
Drop ceiling
Recessed strip
lighting
A2
CEILING/LIGHTING PLAN
SCALE: 1/16” = 1’-0”
Color Palette & Color Theory Analysis
The color palette for this project is monochromatic with variations of grey
and white. There will also be a soft blue accent color to bring more visual
interest into the design.
Figure 19 –
SW7005
Figure 25 – Carpet plank flooring
Figure 20 –
SW7071
Figure 21 –
SW6808
Figure 24 – Wood-look vinyl plan

Figure 22 –
flooring
SW6255
Figure 23 – Concrete Flooring
Furniture & Finishes
Figure 4 – Office/reception modular sofa
Figure 3 – Office side

chair
Figure 10 – Café
chair
Figure 7 – Café table
Figure 1 –
Office cube Figure 2 – Coffee table
seat
Figure 5 – Reception chair
Figure 9 – Private office credenza
Figure 12 – Conference table
Figure 8 – Private
Figure 6 – Private office guest
office chair
chair
Figure 11 – Private office desk
Figure 13 – Conference room
chair
Figure 17 – Antenna Telescope, collaborative

office furniture
Figure 16 – Prospect creative space
Figure 15 – Prospect solo flexible office

workspace
Figure 14 – Brody flexible office desk
Figure 18 – Rockwell Unscripted Covered Steps,

modular office workspace
Reception Perspective Sketch
Open Office Accent Wall Perspective Sketch
FF&E Specification Sheet
Tag C1
Manufacturer Knoll
Product Armchair
Model name/# Krusin Lounge Chair MK02
Finish American walnut
Fabric Leather
Pattern/color Brown (as shown in image)
Price per unit $1,089
Units needed 14
Total cost $15,246
Sustainability GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified® for low-emitting

products
Codes Passes NFPA 260 & 261.

Tag C2
Manufacturer Knoll
Product Armchair
Model name/# 1966 Lounge Chair
Finish Aluminum
Fabric Vinyl coated polyester mesh
Pattern/color White (as shown in image)
Units needed 12
Total cost $15,132
Sustainability GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified®

Tag C3
Manufacturer Knoll
Product Dining chair
Model name/# Olivares Aluminum Chair
Finish Aluminum
Fabric N/A
Pattern/color
Price per unit $555
Units needed 28
Total cost $15,540

Tag C4
Manufacturer Knoll
Product Lounge chair
Model name/# Rockwell Unscripted Club Chair
Finish Painted steel legs
Fabric Polyester
Pattern/color Blue Tide (as shown in image)
Units needed 5
Total cost $8,800
Sustainability GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified® and GREENGUARD

Gold Certified®

Tag C5
Manufacturer Knoll
Product Executive Chair
Model name/# Life
Finish Black plastic
Fabric Polyester
Pattern/color Black (as shown in image)
Units needed 22
Total cost $22,946
Aluminum base version is made with 60% recycled content and

Sustainability 70% of parts are readily recyclable, Can contribute to achieving
U.S. Green Building Council LEED® credits, including the
Innovation, GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified®, Rated
Sustainable Gold under the SMaRT© Consensus Sustainable
Product Standard.

Tag C6
Manufacturer Knoll
Product Task Chair
Model name/# MultiGeneration by Knoll Light Task with Arms
Finish Chrome base
Fabric N/A
Pattern/color N/A
Price per unit $395
Units needed 22
Total cost $8,690
Powder coating and adhesives are virtually VOC-free,

Sustainability Constructed using minimal materials and PVC free,
GREENGUARD and GREENGUARD Gold Certified, Rated SMaRT©
Sustainable Gold, BIFMA level® 3 certified.

Tag S1
Manufacturer Knoll
Product Modular Sofa
Model name/# K. Lounge with Back – 3 Seat
Finish Plywood frame
Fabric Vinyl weave
Pattern/color Earl Grey (as shown in image)
Units needed 3
Total cost $5,805
Sustainability

Tag T1
Manufacturer Knoll
Product Dining table
Model name/# Antenna Table - Square
Finish Laminate top
Fabric N/A
Pattern/color N/A
Price per unit $735
Units needed 7
Total cost $5,145
Legs and rails have 30-45% recycled steel content, Cradles have
Sustainability 44% recycled content cast aluminum, PVC and fiberglass-free
with VOC-free finishes and adhesives, GREENGUARD Indoor Air
Quality Certified®, Available with an FSC® certified claim, BIFMA
level® 3 certified.

Tag T2
Manufacturer Knoll
Product Coffee Table
Model name/# Rockwell Unscripted Coffee Table
Finish Laminate top
Fabric N/A
Pattern/color N/A
Price per unit $710
Units needed 7
Total cost $4,970
GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified® and GREENGUARD

Sustainability Gold Certified®

Tag T3
Manufacturer Knoll
Product Executive Desk
Model name/# Albini Desk
Finish Glass, steel
Fabric N/A
Pattern/color N/A
Units needed 6
Total cost $25,962
GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified®

Sustainability

Tag T4
Manufacturer Herman Miller
Product Conference table
Model name/# Magis Baguette Table
Finish Glass, aluminum
Fabric N/A
Pattern/color N/A
Units needed 2
Total cost $4,438
Sustainability

Tag ST1
Manufacturer Knoll
Product Cradenza
Model name/# Florence Knoll Credenza 2 Position
Finish Chrome legs, marble top
Fabric N/A
Pattern/color N/A
Units needed 6
Total cost $35,646

Tag CB1
Manufacturer Knoll
Product Cube seat
Model name/# Rockwell Unscripted Upholstered Seat - Cube
Finish Steel base
Fabric Vinyl weave
Pattern/color River Rock (as shown in image)
Price per unit $470
Units needed 6
Total cost $2,820
Sustainability GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified® and

GREENGUARD Gold Certified®

Tag FF1
Product Flexible office workspace
Model name/# Prospect Solo Space
Finish Aluminum
Fabric N/A
Pattern/color N/A
Units needed 4
Total cost $16,000
Sustainability

Tag FF2
Product Collaborative office workspace
Model name/# Prospect Creative Space
Finish Aluminum
Fabric N/A
Pattern/color N/A
Units needed 1
Total cost $8,000
Sustainability

Tag FF3
Manufacturer Steelcase
Product Flexible office workspace
Model name/# Brody
Finish Steel frame
Fabric Vinyl
Pattern/color TBD
Units needed 7
Total cost $38,500
Sustainability Cradle to Cradle Certified™, • Oeko-Tex, BIFMA level®

2, SCS Indoor Advantage™ Gold.

Tag FF4
Manufacturer Knoll
Product Flexible desk system
Model name/# Antenna Telescope
Finish Veneer top
Fabric N/A
Pattern/color N/A
Units needed 4
Total cost $100,000
Sustainability

Tag FF5
Manufacturer Knoll
Product Modular seating
Model name/# Rockwell Unscripted Steps
Finish Birch plywood
Fabric N/A
Pattern/color N/A
Units needed 1
Total cost $15,000
Sustainability FSC® Certified, GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality

Certified® and GREENGUARD Gold Certified®

Furniture Plan
A3
FURNITURE PLAN
SCALE: 1/16” = 1’-0”
Furniture Schedule
TAG ITEM LOCATION FINISH MANUFACTURER QAUNTITY REMARKS
C1 LOUNGE CHAIR RECEPTION WALNUT KNOLL 14
C2 GUEST CHAIR PRIVATE OFFICES ALUMINUM KNOLL 12
C3 DINING CHAIR CAFÉ ALUMINUM KNOLL 28
C4 LOUNGE CHAIR OPEN OFFICES PAINTED STEEL LEGS KNOLL 5
C5 EXECUTIVE CHAIR PRIVATE OFFICES BLACK PLASTIC FRAME KNOLL 22
C6 TASK CHAIR OPEN OFFICES/CONFERENCE ROOMS CHROME BASE KNOLL 22
S1 MODULUAR SOFA OPEN OFFICE/RECEPTION PLYWOOD FRAME KNOLL 3
T1 DINING TABLE CAFÉ LAMINATE TOP KNOLL 7
T2 COFFEE TABLE OPEN OFFICES LAMINATE TOP KNOLL 7
T3 EXECUTIVE DESK PRIVATE OFFICES GLASS TOP, STEEL FRAME KNOLL 6
T4 CONFERENCE TABLE CONFERENCE ROOMS GLASS TOP, ALUMINUM BS. HERMAN MILLER 2
ST1 CRADENZA PRIVATE OFFICES MARBLE TOP KNOLL 6
CB1 CUBE SEAT OPEN OFFICES STEEL BASE KNOLL 6
FF1 FLEXIBLE WORKSPACE OPEN OFFICE ALUMINUM HERMAN MILLER 4 FURNITURE WILL HAVE TACKABLE WALL
FF2 COLLABORATIVE OPEN OFFICE ALUMINUM HERMAN MILLER 1 FURNITURE WILL HAVE TACKABLE WALL
WORKSPACE
FF3 FLEXIBLE WORKSPACE OPEN OFFICES STEEL FRAME STEELCASE 7
FF4 COLLABORATIVE OPEN OFFICES VENEER TOP KNOLL 4 TO INCLUDE POWER CHANNEL FOR LAPTOPS.
WORKSPACE
FF5 FLEXIBLE WORKSPACE OPEN OFFICE BIRCH PLYWOOD KNOLL 1 SEAT WILL BE UPHOLSTERED
Presentation Board 1
Milano’s Furniture Plan

Open Office Rendering
C2 – Private office
guest chair
Carpet Tile Pattern
T3 – Executive Carpet Tile Flooring

desk
C4 – Open office
lounge chair
T2 – Open office coffee

Rotz Designer: Jesse Rotz
Client: Chris Stewart
table
Design Project Name: Milano’s

Presentation Board 2
S1 – Open office/reception
sofa
C1 – Reception chair
Conference Room Rendering
Vinyl Plank Flooring
P1 – Wall
paint
P2 – Wall
paint
Reception Rendering
Concrete Flooring
Rotz Designer: Jesse Rotz

Client: Chris Stewart
P4 – Accent
paint
P3 – Wall
paint
Design Project Name: Milano’s
Client Review
(Client) –
“I am really impressed with this final design solution! The overall impression is
very clean and modern, which is exactly what I was wanting for this office. I
think the incorporation of wood and concrete is a great idea to give the
space some interest. I also like the idea of using the drop ceilings in the way
you described, it is a very unique and interesting design that I feel will really
represent our brand. The color palette is very soothing, but not dull at all! The
furniture that you’ve selected is also very clean-lined and the materials used
for these pieces go very well with the rest of your design!”
IMPROVING THE OFFICE
ENVIRONMENT WITH HYBRID
WORKSTATIONS AND BETTER
ACOUSTIC CONTROL
Senior Studio 1 INTA402
Pro. Grefe
Jesse Rotz
Jesse Rotz – “Improving the Office Environment through Better Acoustic Control” Page 1
Outline:
I. Introduction
A. Overview/statement of problem
B. Thesis
II. History of Office Design
A. The development of the “enclosed” office
B. The effects of the enclosed office on employees
C. The relationship between the office environment & the company occupying the
space
III. The Creation of Collaborative Office Layouts
A. The transition from enclosed offices to collaborative offices
B. The response to the collaborative office
IV. The Obstacles faced with Collaborative Offices Explored
A. Privacy in the office environment
B. Acoustic control
C. Personalization in a shared environment
V. Design for a Better Office Environment
A. Interview with Lori Hewitt
B. Interview with Kate Cashdollar
C. Case study 1
D. Case study 2
E. The new “hybrid” office – (flexible/adaptive office environment)
F. Acoustical control – (ceiling clouds, acoustic panels, carpet tile)
VI. Conclusion
A. Summarization of findings
B. Connection to thesis
VII. Figures Cited
VIII. Works Cited
Introduction –
Open concept offices were created in the 1950s in Germany, but have only
recently become the new trend in American office buildings. In the last 25 years, high-
tech companies and design firms have transitioned from closed office spaces to
“collaborative” offices (Scalco, 2017). These spaces are designed for employees to
interact and collaborate with each other on creative projects. This new design for offices
seemed, at first, like the perfect solution for creative, design-focused companies that
required teamwork and fresh ideas to come across the best product or design. This was
not the case, because, even though these spaces offered a way for employees to
interact with each other, it took away the privacy and focused environment that private
offices offered. The problem with the development of the shared office environment is
that there are a lot of distractions with having so many employees working in the same
space. In a study that was done on seven different office buildings, as many as 72% of
respondents were dissatisfied with acoustic privacy in their office spaces (2007).
Employee’s stress levels were higher and their productivity levels dropped
tremendously because of the distractions related to shared offices. Because the
collaborative office environment has its own problems as well, the question remains:
How can businesses that need employees to work together to develop new ideas
provide spaces that allow their employees to focus on their own work, while also, being
able to collaborate on team projects? The answer is in the configuration of furniture,
systems, and materials used in these environments. In other words, in order to create
an open-plan office that allows employees to collaborate, as well as, focus on their own
work, the designer must address the acoustics in this environment (“Open Plan
Acoustics”). This is how designers can improve these open office spaces for the
employees working in them, which will improve the company’s productivity and overall
success as well.
Before establishing new design ideas for these open-plan offices, there needs to
be an understanding of the history of the “office environment”. It is true that enclosed
offices were created first, but in order to understand how these new “open offices”
began to replace the traditional design, one must determine what key aspects were
needed/lacking in these enclosed environments that lead architects to develop the
collaborative office.
History of Office Design –
(The development of the “enclosed” office)
The birth of the railroad system in the mid-1800s resulted in an increase in job
creation. These jobs included conductors, engineers, accountants, clerks, carpenters,
ticket sellers, and payroll officers. As the transportation industry grew, a bigger
communication system was needed to help transport products effectively to other
companies throughout the US, resulting in need for a greater number of individuals to fill
these various roles. This lead to a necessity for a system of organizational hierarchy
among those working in these communication buildings. By the 1880s, this hierarchy
system was adopted by other industries, such as, Western Union, insurance
companies, and banking companies. The reason these companies needed such large
offices was because of the tremendous number of employees who were needed to keep
these companies running smoothly.

After WW2, the office environment changed dramatically. With factory jobs
paying far more than office jobs, employers needed to figure out a way to draw more
employees back in. They eliminated the mundane, routine-centered “Scientific
Management” system that was developed by Frederick Taylor, and introduced health
insurance and retirement plans. The office spaces were filled with more comfortable and
aesthetically pleasing furniture as well. This made the spaces more visually appealing
and welcoming. With these significant changes in office layout and design, people
began to quit their factor jobs, and go back to working in corporate office buildings
(“Smithsonianeductaion.org”).
This foundation of information on the history of office design helps one to
understand how and why offices were developed and what key features and
characteristics were a part of these spaces. The importance of such environments for
corporate offices is evident, however, the psychological effects related with these
spaces aren’t quite as transparent.
(The effects of the enclosed office on employees)
The enclosed office brings many benefits to those who work in these spaces.
The following describes the various advantages of enclosed office spaces:
1.) Privacy – The most common aspect of this type of office that people associate
with is privacy. When working in these environments, the term “enclosed” literally
means, a closed-off space with which one can work and focus on the task at
hand in a peaceful setting with walls that block out noise and other distractions.
This allows the employee to get more work done throughout the day.
2.) Personalization – With private offices, comes the ability to personalize the space
however the employee would want it. This creates an atmosphere within the
office environment that reflects the employee’s personality and gives the space a
“homie” feeling. These elements help the employee feel welcome and lesson the
desire to leave the office building.
3.) Reduces Gossip – Because every office is disconnected from one another, it
eliminates the amount of social gossip and drama that is typically related with
these work environments. Which, in turn, improves productivity.
4.) Healthy Competition – The connection between office size and employee status
is established and encourages employees to do their best work in order to obtain
a higher position or ranking. While starting employees might have a smaller-sized
office with less natural light coming into it, employees with more experience, or
higher ranking could have bigger offices with more natural light and features
(Reddy).
It is easy to see how enclosed office spaces would’ve been popular and still are today.
When people think of closed offices, they often think of accounting firms, banking
companies, insurance companies, and law firms. This is because the type of work that
is associated with these companies is directly related to the kind of office layout that is
designed for that company. One of the biggest disadvantages of closed offices is the
disconnection between employees. Since each individual has their own private office
space with floor-to-ceiling walls, it can be isolating for each employee. The
communication begins to fail with this kind of office environment, because of the lack of
interaction between employees (see figure 1). This was what sparked the idea for the
next type of office that will be discussed.
(Figure 1 – “The Space”. Instant Offices. N.d. Web. Dec. 12. 2017.)
(The relationship between the office environment & the company occupying the
space)
The enclosed office was a key feature for many businesses because of the ability
for each employee to work on their individual work and build the company’s success.
This type of office is very beneficial to a lot of different businesses, such as, banks,
insurance companies, law firms, and accounting firms. The design intent of these offices
was to eliminate any distractions surrounding these environments, and instead, give
each employee some breathing room to do critical thinking on the tasks at hand. This is
why the closed office was so popular, until a new demand for spaces that encouraged
employee interaction took place.
The Creation of Collaborative Office Layouts –
(The transition from enclosed offices to collaborative offices)

With new businesses coming up in America, there was a concern with how the
standard office would be beneficial to companies that needed their employees to work
together. These businesses are ones those that thrive on employee communication and
collaboration in order to exchange ideas and thoughts to come up with the best solution
or product. It is crucial for employees to interact, because of the complex nature of the
company’s work. “In fact, data from a survey of 600 corporate executives conducted by
the Gartner Group found that the percentage of workers’ product being dependent on
group input increased from about 25 percent in the year 2000 to 60 percent in the year
2010” (Arsenault, 2017). This is how the need for “open-plan” offices became apparent
and the design for offices shifted from enclosed to shared, or collaborative office
environments. While the former office design focused on employee separation, closed-
off spaces, and a hierarchy system, the new collaborative office design is centered
around open spaces that are shared. They encourage employee communication and as
few walls as possible to allow for far more employees to share the same space. The
way these space work is in the arrangement of furniture and “workstations”. The space
is large and has a lot of natural light, because of the absence of internal walls that
would’ve typically divided the space into private offices. This allows every employee to
have access to natural light, which improves the health and well-being of each person
working in this space. It also eliminates the costs of lighting, and heating/cooling
throughout the day since everyone shares the same space. This is another factor that
attracted these new companies. Within this vast space are arrangements of furniture
that encourage employee collaboration. There are typically desks that are lines up with
each other and face each other with computers that share the same electric panel.
Another arrangement is in the cubicle-style system furniture. This is where partition
walls are placed in the space to provide a workstation for each employee that is
somewhat separate, but not anything like the typical enclosed offices that used floor-to-
ceiling walls. These cubicles allow each individual to work on their own tasks, while
being close to each other, in case collaboration is needed. There are also groups of
meeting tables where employees can sit together and discuss different ideas and work
off of each other in order to come up with a solution or product. This is like the more
formal layout of meeting spaces, but is in the same open space that shares the
cubicles, desks, etc. The whole idea behind these offices is to break the barrier that
separates the individuals who work here, and instead, bring them together to solve
complex problems that would be hard for any one person to solve. This is why shared
offices are so popular among creative companies that are looking for ideas to better the
lives of the community.
(The response to the collaborative office)
Although the goal of these collaborative office spaces was to bring employees
together and increase productivity for the business, this wasn’t exactly the outcome.
Some of the planned aspects of open offices remained true, such as, better
communication among employees, and lower costs because of the lack of separate
offices, which also reduced heating/cooling bills, however, the idea that collaborative
offices would increase efficiency and productivity has not been achieved. These spaces
present a lot of negative factors that affect the individuals who work in these
environments. Some of the biggest problems with open-plan offices is the lack of
privacy, noise control, and visual distractions. It’s easy to think that because open
offices allow employees to work together more and the initial costs of constructing these
spaces is far lower than the standard closed office, that it is a fix-all solution for any
business and office environment. This is definitely not the case, as studies have shown
that “open-plan offices are related to decreased job satisfaction, reduced motivation,
and perceived privacy… examining subjective reports of employees in open-plan offices
have identified irrelevant speech as a factor linked to negative perceptions of the
workplace, lower productivity, and stress” (Abdul-Ghani et al., 2011). These distractions
are making the workplace far more stressful than the closed office, which is the exact
opposite of what employers wanted for their employees. This office environment adds
more pressure for each individual to try to get work done, while dealing with visual and
audible distractions around them. Not only do the employees not have a space to focus
on their work, but the space that they do have also causes them to feel exposed and
take away the personal aspect of having their own office.
The Obstacles Faced with Collaborative Offices Explored –
(Privacy in the office environment)
As discussed before, privacy is a big issue with collaborative office spaces. And
this isn’t just about not having a room for one’s self. It is about the psychological aspect
of being exposed in a space, while trying to focus on the task at hand. It becomes an
added stress because of the loss of concentration on one’s own work, which turns into
more work for the individual to complete their job every day. How can one accomplish a
variety of tasks if the individual can’t even focus enough to get one thing done? This is
where open-plan offices lack and a new type of layout is needed in order to get
employees to have a more positive outlook on their job, which will increase the
productivity of the company as a whole. Such things to consider when thinking about
privacy issues is the way these office spaces are laid out. As stated before, there are
multiple ways to lay out the space of a collaborative office, since the space is open and
the elements inside are all moveable. The workstations that most employee use are
cubicles, which are partition-walled work areas that each employee can use to do their
work on the computer, for filing, calling, etc., but these workstations provide very little
privacy because of the low partition walls that can easily be looked over when standing
(see figure 2). This leads to employees feeling exposed and takes their minds off of
their work, and instead, on who’s watching them work. Another workstation is the
shared desk area that has multiple desks lined up against one another with each desk
having its own computer. These workstations are even more exposed, since there is
nothing separating each employee’s desk area.

(Figure 2 – “Living in a Cubicle: Human-Friendly Open Plan Offices”. Kaspersky.com.
Feb. 23. 2015. Web. Dec. 12. 2017.)
(Acoustic control)
Another problem with open-plan offices is the distractions related to noise and
conversations that weren’t intended for everyone to hear. Since the space is open
without any walls to block sound or even muffle the noise, there is a lot of distracting
noise that interferes with the individual’s productivity. This makes it hard for the
employee to simply focus on their own work and complete tasks to the best of their
ability. Since these offices are typically surrounded by windows to allow natural light to
enter the space, it can be hard to have a conversation without every other colleague
overhearing what the person is saying. As Michael Chusid stated, “it also happened to
be exceptionally easy to overhear conversations in that office. Working in
an open office, the junior partners were consigned to cubicles along the building's
masonry and glass perimeter. These hard surfaces reflected their voices directly to the
drafting tables occupied by the interns, located merely six feet away” (2001).
(Personalization in a shared environment)
Finally, the third factor that has a great effect on the employee’s well-being and
productivity is the inability to make one’s own workspace reflect them in some way. In
other words, when the office space is being shared by multiple people, there is little
room, if any at all, to personalize one’s work area. This is because of the lack of wall
space and separation between employees. The effects of personalized workspaces are
great on the employee’s overall well-being and outlook on their job. Being able to
personalize one’s own workspace creates a sense of belonging and establishes an area
that reflects the individual, which helps that person relax and concentrate more on their
work. As Natalie Shoemaker stated in her article, “The Importance of Personalized
Workspaces”, “As an introvert who once worked in a corporate office building, being
able to personalize my workspace was an important part of meeting and bonding with
the people I worked with on a personal level. Without them, I'd have been the loner in
my office” (par. 9).
Design for a Better Office Environment –
(Interview with Lori Hewitt)
Lori Hewitt is an interior designer that works in California doing commercial and
hospitality design. She has a Master’s Degree in Interior Design, and is LEED (ID+C)-
certified. When asked about what types of businesses would benefit from collaborative
office layouts, she responded, “digital animators, designers, web developers, startups,
etc., are among those environments that require and thrive from the exchange of ideas
and readily available support.” She went on to describe the idea behind open offices,
saying, “There is a thought that, by tearing down literal barriers there is a greater
opportunity for resulting increase in both creativity and productivity. Additionally, as
industry evolves and expands, the execution of product/service development relies
heavily on workflow collaboration.”
The next topic that was discussed was why open offices took over the traditional
closed offices. Lori talked about how a company’s core values are the greatest
influencers on a shift from closed to open office spaces. It isn’t so much about a new
idea for all companies to take hold of, but rather, a new way of laying out a space for
specific companies that need this kind of collaboration and interaction among
employees in order to be successful.
The disadvantages of open offices, for Lori, are the following:
1.) Noise – This is something that can hinder even the easiest of jobs, simply
because of the distracting factors of surrounding noise in the workplace.
2.) Interruptions – Because the collaborative office encourages interaction and
brainstorming of ideas from different employees, this can also cause many
interruptions throughout the day, while the employee tries to accomplish one
task.
3.) Interpersonal environment – Some employees may thrive on collaborating with
other colleagues, but others require more independent tasks in order to be
successful at their job. The shared office space leaves these employees feeling
uncomfortable and at a greater disadvantage, performance-wise.
When considering the advancements for office design, Lori suggested creating a hybrid
office environment, which looks at the needs of the individuals who use the space, and
then creates a space that fits all of the needs of the employees to be a productive work
environment.
(Interview with Kate Cashdollar)
The next interview was with interior designer, Kate Cashdollar, who works in
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. She works on commercial and hospitality design as well.
Kate has an Associates Degree in Specialized Technology in Interior Design.
When asked the same question regarding the business that would thrive on open-plan
office environments, Kate responded, “Architectural and design firms, furniture

dealers/manufacturers, graphic design companies, fashion industries, and engineering
companies.”
Kate talked about the need for collaborative offices and how they sort-of replaced the
standard closed office. “There has been a paradigm shift and teaching methods and the
way students learn. That said, it’s changing how we work. As students are graduating,
seeking employment, this is one of the things they are looking for… When you love
what you do and where you work, it shows in your work.”
She went on to discuss the distractions that come with these environments. Kate
explained how the need for private rooms is still apparent even in collaborative offices,
because having a private conversation is almost impossible in these spaces. There has
to be a place where two people can talk about private matters of importance, without
every employee being distracted by the conversation.
When asked what direction designers should take in order to come up with a better
office design, Kate stated, “Plan for flexibility, provide the ability to work anywhere and
everywhere. Mobile options, access to power and data.” This idea behind flexible
furniture is something that both designers had suggested for improving the office space.
(Case study 1)
The first case study is located on 77 North 3rd Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201.
The building is and office building called the “Hub Building”, which has many different
office spaces within the interior. The building had just recently started a gut renovation
in order to change the space arrangements inside for better office environments, as well
as, update the original façade and interior elements of the building. The spaces were
very outdated and didn’t flow well. These offices are a combination of closed and open
office spaces. This was interesting to see first-hand. The spaces flowed very nicely from
one to the next, and the use of materials was very well-done. The goal of this renovation
was to create office spaces that would suite multiple companies. One space had 4
enclosed offices on the west side of the room, while the east side, facing the windows,
was left open for cubicles, or other open workstations (see figure 3). This is an
interesting idea, providing both enclosed and open offices in the same space. All of the
enclosed offices had small windows to allow the natural light to filter through the open
office space into the private offices. There were no special wall treatments in these
spaces in order to control acoustics, which is definitely a concern that one would have
when using this space as a collaborative environment. Another concern was about the
amount of space in the shared office. The space was quite narrow, which would feel
even more cramped after putting cubicles or other flexible workstations in this space.
(Figure 3 – Rotz, Jesse. “The Hub Building”. 2017. JPEG.)
After having a tour of the office spaces, there were new ideas that came to mind. The
first idea was about the inclusion of both enclosed offices and open offices in the same
space. This design would eliminate the need for constant reconstruction of room
layouts, since the space has a variety of office design methods.
(Case study 2)
The second case study is located in Chambersburg, Pa, as well. This building is
an office building for an architectural and engineering firm called, “Newcomer
Associates”. The office is located on the ground floor and is a combination of
collaborative and private offices. Upon entering, the space is greeted with a reception
area that leads into the collaborative space in the center of the building. There is a
corridor that surrounds this space, which leads to the outer private offices. While the
flow of the spaces works quite well, there was something that became apparent after
entering the collaborative office space. There were no windows or access to natural
light anywhere in this space. The only natural light that got into this office space was in
the front reception area where guests would check in. This is a major problem that can
ultimately hinder employee productivity and overall health/wellbeing. One of the
architects that works there said how she wishes the space could have access to natural
lighting, as she feels this is the most important aspect of any building, but they can’t
change this aspect of the building, because the landlord won’t allow it. The architect
redesigned a lot of the interior elements of the office spaces, including the addition of
glass windows looking into the private offices that would’ve separated these offices from
the open office space. She said that she wanted to open up the spaces to allow for
natural light, if the landlord would eventually let them incorporate windows in this
building. Another negative factor of this building was the outdated furniture that was
used for each employee’s workstation. Every cubicle was made with outdated materials
that didn’t absorb sound in any way. One of the employees said that in order to block
out distracting noise or talking, he would put headphones in to listen to music while he
worked. This is something that needs to be fixed in order to improve working conditions
and employee satisfaction all-around (see figure 4).
(Figure 4 – Rotz, Jesse. “Newcomer Associates”. 2017. JPEG.)
(The new “hybrid” office – flexible/adaptive office spaces)
After gaining a better understanding of collaborative spaces through the case
studies and professional interviews, the need for hybrid office furniture and better
acoustic control was discovered. As Lori Hewitt mentioned in the previous interview,
hybrid office layouts focus on the needs of the individual using the space, and
addresses each aspect, while being flexible for multiple people to use at the same time.
Before designing an office environment, one must look at the basic 7 attributes of
workspaces. These are the following:
1.) Location – How accessible the current space is for employees
2.) Enclosure – How much of the space is enclosed by walls and doors?
3.) Exposure – How private, both visually and acoustically, the space is
4.) Technology – How high-tech the space is in order to accustom different company
requirements
5.) Temporality – How much the space encourages lingering
6.) Perspective – What direction the space focuses the employee’s attention
7.) Size – The useable square footage of the space
All of these key factors help determine the layout of the office space and what elements
still need to be brought into the space in order to accomplish the desired outcome for
the specific company (Bacevice et al. 2016).
For a lot of high-tech companies, the office layout has taken a new turn and is,
also, effecting the way employees work in these environments. The whole idea behind
this new “hybrid” office is the concept of working in different areas throughout the day,
rather than staying at a fixed workstation the entire day. Employees still have their
assigned desk areas, but they no longer need to be chained down to one area the
whole day. This type of office environment encourages employees to have new ideas
and become inspired through a variety of different work areas. There are libraries,
cafes, and outdoor spaces for employees to take conference calls and other related
business tasks (see figure 5). By providing a variety of spaces for employees to work in,
this encourages the spontaneous encounters that spark new ideas for better success
for the company (“The Economist”).
(Figure 5 – Hoskins, Diane. “The Top Four Things Millennials want from the Workplace”.
Shift Commission. Nov. 1. 2016. Web. Dec. 12. 2017.)
With the introduction of flexible workstations, this allows the employee to have
their own work area, but it is not fixed in any certain way. The adaptive properties of
such furniture systems make for flexible workstations that different employees can use
without having to introduce new furniture items to suite the individual’s needs. The idea
behind the flexible workstation is the ability to change the piece to work better for the
employee. An example of a flexible workstation is the “Prospect Solo Space” desk
system. This system features a round partial wall system to allow visual privacy, while
also being light enough to move to different areas in the office. The walls are made of a
soft material that absorbs sound, creating acoustical privacy. These acoustical wall
panels are tackable, giving the employee more space to organize papers and notes
(see figure 6).
(Figure 6 – “Prospect Solo Space”. Herman Miller. N.d. Web. Dec. 14. 2017.)
Another example of this new style of office furniture is the “Brody” by Steelcase. This is
a more simplified piece that features a comfortable lounge-like chair with an adjustable
worksurface that holds the computer at eye-level, reducing neck and shoulder strain. It
can also be interlocked to other Brody pieces, which forms a chain appearance, but still
maintains a sense of privacy (see figure 7).

(Figure 7 – “Brody”. Steelcase. N.d. Web. Dec. 12. 2017.)
These flexible furniture pieces allow for a better office design in the way
employees work in the space (see figure 8).

(Figure 8 – Rotz, Jesse. “Custom Mobile Desk”. 2017. JPEG.)
Diane Hoskins, Gensler Co-CEO, discussed the importance of having a diverse
group of work spaces stating, “More common areas like coffee bars, cafeterias, small
group meeting rooms and conference rooms mean that more spontaneous interactions
can occur, and important conversations can take place away from work areas where
they are often disruptive” (11).
Because flexible office spaces are still open-planned, the need for acoustic
privacy is still there. This is where attention to wall, ceiling, and flooring materials is
crucial in the beginning phase of the design process.
(Acoustical control)
Before discussing what materials and elements need to be provided for better
acoustic control, one needs to understand what NRC stands for. The abbreviation
“NRC” stands for Noise Reduction Coefficient. In other words, the NRC rating helps
determine the average amount of sound an acoustic product can absorb. The NRC
rating ranges from 0 to 1. If the NRC rating is 0, then the product doesn’t absorb any
sound. If the NRC rating is 1, then the product absorbs all sound (“Audimute”).
The first aspect of acoustical control that will be discussed is the ceiling.
Typically, acoustical ceiling tiles are provided in commercial applications, however, this
isn’t good enough for the open-plan, flexible office environment. There needs to be
more acoustic absorption in these offices since so many people will be using the same
space. The use of ceiling clouds will further develop the acoustic design of the space
and help control unwanted noise in the office. What is a ceiling cloud? A ceiling cloud is
a panel that is suspended from the ceiling that absorbs sound as it hits the face of the
panel, while trapping reflections from the ceiling on the back side of the panel. An
example of this product is the “Nimbus” by Primacoustic. This ceiling cloud has an NRC
rating of .98. The Nimbus acoustic ceiling cloud is “made from 1.5″ (38mm) thick high-
density 6lb per cubic foot (96 kg/m³) glass wool that is completely encapsulated with
micromesh and resin hardened edges. The acoustic panel is then covered in either
Broadway™ acoustically transparent fabric or coated in Primacoustic’s proprietary
textured white paintable finish” (“Primacoustic”). This product will help diminish noise in
the hybrid office environment, without taking up any extra room, and the sculptural
quality of the ceiling cloud will add to the aesthetic of the space (see figure 9).
(Figure 9 – “Nimbus – Acoustic Ceiling Cloud”. Primacoustic. N.d. Web. Dec. 12. 2017.)
For the wall material, acoustical wall panels need to be in place to further absorb
sound and enhance the acoustic quality of the interior environment. An example of this
system is the AlphaSorb acoustic panel from Acoustic Solutions. It is a fabric-wrapped

acoustic panel that has an NRC rating of .85 and has a Class A fire rating. Acoustic wall
panels offer a sound buffer, which will help to reduce the spread of noise throughout the
office space. This will help the employees to focus and not hear every conversation
around them (see figure 10).
(Figure 10 – “Alphasorb Acoustic Panels”. Acoustical Solutions. N.d. Web. Dec. 12.
2017.)
For the flooring material, an acoustic carpet tile should be used to absorb sound,
as well as, provide a durable surface for commercial applications, and enhance visual
aesthetics. One example of this material is the “Scatter” carpet tile collection from
Acoufelt. This carpet tile has an NRC rating of .25, which isn’t as high as the other
materials selected, but with the combination of all three products they will work together
nicely to absorb unwanted noise and allow employees to talk amongst each other
without feeling like they have to whisper (see figure 11).
(Figure 11 – “Scatter Chrome”. Acoufelt. N.d. Web. Dec. 12. 2017.)
Conclusion –
(Summarization of findings)
From the beginning of office design, with the development of the enclosed office
and the many benefits and disadvantages of this office layout, there was a need for a
more collaborative space that allowed employees to interact and exchange ideas with
each other. This lead to the development of the open-plan office environment, which
incorporated minimal interior walls and doors, and focused on the cubicle workstation
where employees shared the same office space, but with different work areas that were
separated by partition walls. This distracting environment ultimately caused frustration
among employees and higher levels of stress, along with lower productivity levels. After
conducting interviews with professional in the design field, a better understanding of the
needs for office design was determined and a couple case studies helped further
develop new ideas for a better office layout. This new “hybrid” office features a
combination of collaborative and private offices with flexible furniture systems that allow
employees to transition between work areas throughout the day (see figure 12). This
increases productivity, while also, improving work satisfaction among employees. The
need for acoustic privacy is also a major factor in open-plan office spaces, so acoustic
materials were addressed for ceiling, wall, and flooring finishes. This ensures acoustic
privacy in a shared environment that has a lot of employees going from one area to the
next, which, in turn, improves focus and overall wellbeing among these workers.
(Figure 12 – Rotz, Jesse. “Hybrid Office Design”. 2017. JPEG.)
(Connection to thesis)
After researching this topic, a realization was made in regards to office design
and what other factors make for a great office environment. It isn’t only about the
acoustic control of a space that makes the office space work for the employees. It is
also about the layout of the space and how each employee interacts with each other, as
well as, what makes the employee more productive and satisfied with their job. The goal
of this paper was to discover ways to improve acoustic control in order to better the
open-plan office, but upon further research, the discovery of hybrid office furniture and
the flexible office environment made a profound impact on the solution for a better office
space (see figure 13).
(Figure 13 – Hoskins, Diane. “Employees Perform Better when They Can Control Their
Space”. Harvard Business Review. Jan. 16. 2014. Web. Dec. 12. 2017.)
Not only is acoustic control addressed in this new hybrid office environment, but
the way in which employees work in these spaces is something that is very fascinating.
The inclusion of both open-plan and private offices, along with flexible office
workstations and acoustic materials, creates a work environment that encourages
employees to enjoy their work and complete their tasks in whatever area they choose
(see figures 14 & 15).
(Figure 14 – Grasso, Natalie. “Zendesk San Francisco HQ Blurs Lines Between Home,
Hospitality, and Workplace”. Work Design Magazine. Aug. 1. 2016. Web. Dec. 12.
2017.)
(Figure 15 - Grasso, Natalie. “Zendesk San Francisco HQ Blurs Lines Between Home,
Hospitality, and Workplace”. Work Design Magazine. Aug. 1. 2016. Web. Dec. 12.
2017.)
As Nathan Curtis, interior designer for Fuse Studios, stated:
The biggest legacy failure is commuting to and from the office each day and having to
be seen at your desk for hours in the end. Technology pretty much allows you to work
anywhere and allows employers to track productivity. Of course, trust is important here.
The office of tomorrow needs to be more of a social space for the sharing and
discussion of ideas. Where the agreed work needs to be carried out is not so important
unless you are tied to manufacturing something. Task based environments are the key.
(14)
This freedom that comes with hybrid office layouts leads to the satisfaction of the
individual working in these environments on a daily basis. And with a positive outlook on
one’s own job, the work produced from the individual also improves dramatically. This
increases productivity, improves health conditions of the employee, and ultimately leads
to a more successful company.

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< https://workdesign.com/2016/08/zendesk-san-francisco-hq-blurs-lines-home-
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Ai Inta422 w6 A1 Rotz J

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Senior Studio ll INTA422

User Needs & Requirements:

Total Square Footage Required – 5,900 sf.

The project is an office building for the company, “Milano’s”, and

Reception Desk Design

Reception Desk Design

Reception Accent Wall

Construction Cost Estimation: $1,751,449.14

Developing the Project (3/28)

Vice President of Sales Vice President of Vice President of

Sales Employee Sales Employee

Front Entrance Door Design

Stair Tower Design

Reception Plan View

Conf. 2nd Open Office Conf.

Stor. Cl. Off.

Café Main Open Office

Conf. Cl. Off.

Café Main Open Office Stor.

2nd Open Office

Cl. Off. Conf.

Cl. Off. Cl. Off.

Cl. Off. Cl. Off.

2nd Open Office Cl. Off.

Café Main Open Office 2nd Open Office

Cl. Off. Cl. Off.

Main Open Office

Public Access Areas

Private Access Areas

Public Access Areas

Private Access Areas

Public Access Areas

Private Access Areas

Figure 24 – Wood-look vinyl plan

Figure 4 – Office/reception modular sofa

Figure 3 – Office side

Figure 9 – Private office credenza

Figure 12 – Conference table

Figure 17 – Antenna Telescope, collaborative

Figure 16 – Prospect creative space

Figure 15 – Prospect solo flexible office

Figure 18 – Rockwell Unscripted Covered Steps,

Model name/# Krusin Lounge Chair MK02

Finish American walnut

Pattern/color Brown (as shown in image)

Price per unit $1,089

Total cost $15,246

Sustainability GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified® for low-emitting

Codes Passes NFPA 260 & 261.

Model name/# 1966 Lounge Chair

Fabric Vinyl coated polyester mesh

Pattern/color White (as shown in image)

Price per unit $1,261

Total cost $15,132

Sustainability GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified®

Codes Passes NFPA 260 & 261.

Product Dining chair

Model name/# Olivares Aluminum Chair

Price per unit $555

Total cost $15,540

Sustainability GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified®

Codes Passes NFPA 260 & 261.

Product Lounge chair