ThomasARTS: More Reception, Creative, & Collaboration Space
Still located in their startup office, ThomasARTS (TA) understood they had outgrown their space. Specific challenges included no reception functionality, only two true collaboration spaces, a cramped open workspace, nowhere to entertain clients, and virtually no brainstorming spaces for the "creatives".
The TA project process began by partnering with their brokerage team to evaluate inherent cost implications and space opportunities of a full floor space in their current building. When the conceptual pricing exercise helped them see a project within their improvement allowance, the plan became clear...relocate a few floors down.
The core of TA's solution was a smart design by FORM Architects featuring open ceilings, concrete floors, and dramatic lighting selections. Functionally, TA now had a large reception/client bar, multiple collaboration spaces, a remote-conferencing center doubled in size, and a dedicated brainstorming area for their "creatives".
TA's solution was also enabled by GPI Engineering retaining most mechanical system locations, innovative effort by Tuck Technologies to "augment" IT/AV systems, and a very effective effort by Washington Workplace to blend new and existing furniture into a personalized new workspace for ThomasARTS.
TASC / ENGILITY: Remaking a Work Culture
As a long standing defense contractor in the region, TASC wanted its 100,000 sf office intensive Chantilly VA campus culture to embrace more modern uses of the space. DBI was selected as their design partner.
Their new workspace features selective open ceilings, modular office fronts, multiple collaboration spaces, and welcoming pantries and coffee for the employees. DBI's design was received so well for the Chantilly campus makeover that it quickly became the inspiration for the renovation of their Navy Yard offices in Washington DC.
Even with the challenges from a corporate reorganization, the campus was renovated in under 12 months via phased/staggered design/construction processes and several "swing-moves". The Engility Navy Yard renovation began just as the final phase of the campus renovations were completed. Hitt Contracting renovated both spaces.
The new design would depend on new IT/AV technologies for secure communication within their modern, open offices. The TASC/Engility project team also included Caliber Engineering, Audio visual systems by Diversified, BIG cabling infrastructure, furniture by Arbee Associates, and security systems by Stanley.
Pioneering Evolution: Need for Speed...within Budget
Pioneering Evolution began their process with familiar tenant themes: an expiring lease and an "all-in" tenant improvement allowance imperative. However goals were still quite clear: a creative reception area, open engaging workspace, collaboration booths, and a large pantry and coffee bar for employees and guests alike.
All of Pioneering Evolution's objectives were met by an excellent, but cost-effective design from FORM Architects and GPI engineering. The design was supported by very thoughtful efforts designing new IT/AV/Security systems by Disconnect/Reconnect, as well as all new furniture selections by Washington Workplace.
The project construction schedule was completed in under 8 weeks through a well executed construction effort by DFS Construction. The key ingredients to getting Pioneering Evolution into their new offices on time was a early conceptual budget and clear team communication from design, FF&E planning, competitive bidding, and effective implementation from contractors and client vendors.
Media DC: Bringing Four Brands into One Space
Media DC began their process as four media organizations in separate spaces; yet a clear mandate to ensure all staff maintained their effective work flows, begin to foster collaboration, and create a new collective identity.
The project started by partnering with their brokerage team to evaluate inherent cost implications/opportunities of a single full floor space, followed by a site selection analysis of TI allowances vs conceptual pricing exercises for several alternatives. As the MediaDC path became clear, an exhaustive site selection process was finalized, and a new 30,000 sf home was found for their new collective organization.
The formal solution was executed by a thoughtful design from FOX Architects featuring open yet "regional" work areas of open workspace and glass front offices. Bognet Construction delivered a beautiful new office for MediaDC that included a unified reception, many meeting spaces, a large collaboration/pantry room, a pod-cast production room, and dramatic drywall signage for branding.
MediaDC's solution was also powered by KTA engineering, and made possible by new furniture plan by Washington Workplace, which seamlessly blended the best pieces from their previous offices.
The Washington Institute: Securing a Sub-lease
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy was still settling into their new facilities only a 1/2 block away from their old offices. Their previous space was typical nineties space, long hallways and closed offices in an building still operating MEP systems with some units from the eighties.
It had not taken very long to secure a new sub-tenant for half their old office, but the remaining half would be another story. Given the reduced square footage & visual "challenges" of an older build-out, their remaining space was lingering in a state of nearly leasing.
Ultimately TWI's sub-lease solution involved a partial white box demolition to increase traffic, and a great spec-suite design from Collective Architect featuring selectively open ceilings, an inviting open pantry, enlarged glass sidelights, and open concept workspace to fill the space with natural light and almost any furniture layout.
However the key to the spec-suite solution was basing the design around a conceptual budget focused almost entirely around architectural finishes. GPI engineering was enlisted prior to the architectural design to survey the space, and provide a preliminary MEP layout for Collective Architecture to plan around.
Kalmia Construction had already completed a partial, and very cost-effective, white space demolition for TWI. So they were hired to prepare the spec suite. And with a brokerage/marketing package bolstered by design materials and a framing in place for the spec suite, TWI started discussions with an eventual sub-tenant within a few weeks after starting construction.
