The elegant Maple wall paneling
with Bloodwood accent band
Bearing Point Office Space
makes a welcoming statement at the reception entrance.
B
earing Point is one of the world’s leading management and technology consulting companies, with locations in 37 countries. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, the firm has more than 17,000 employees focusing on the Public Services, Financial Services and Commercial Services industries. Bearing Point professionals have built a reputation for knowing what it takes to help clients generate revenue, increase costeffectiveness, manage regulatory compliance, integrate information and transition to “nextgeneration” technology.
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A Point Of Contrast For Consulting Company
Office
Bearing Point Office Space
Design.
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Bearing Point Office Space
AT A GLANCE:
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Bearing Point Office Space
When the firm opened a new office in Greenwich, Connecticut, it called upon the skills of The M Group Architects of Vienna, Virginia, and AWI member firm Legere Group Ltd., Avon, Connecticut to design and fabricate custom architectural woodwork for the space. “Our direction was that the space should be designed to serve almost as a second corporate headquarters,” explains architect Mitch Freedman, AIA. High-level clients, officials and media would often be guests in the office, while general day-to-day functions also needed to be accommodated. “Though the use of wood, or a combination of woods was not a specific requirement, the design team believed that a scheme featuring a high-contrast, elegant woodwork package would allow us to achieve a controlled, machined look to the overall space,” Freedman continues. “All the while providing a comfortable environment for both visitors and employees.” Bearing Point’s interest was in having a bright, modern and welcoming space created, without incorporating trendy ideas or looks into the design, adds Bearing Point’s spokesperson Peggy Snyder.
Aluminium Z Clip
1/4”
Qtr. Sliced Maple Veneer
Blocking
7/16”
3/4”
Metal Framing by others 1/8” Bloodwood Reveal Spline
3-1/4”
Bloodwood Trim (Brosimum rubescens)
Gyp. Board 3/4”
1/8”
Compelling Contrast
According to Steve Hass, project manager for the Legere Group, a compelling contrast in look was created with quartered White Maple veneer and Bloodwood solids. The contrast was followed through on the paneling, credenzas, pantry and reception desk. “Our inspiration for the detailing started with an image on a 20-year-old postcard advertising an artistic, abstract furniture show,” recalls Karen Lewis, IIDA. “While we weren’t looking to assign or follow a specific style, the look leans toward modern, but with a strong interest in avoiding the trendy or time-stamped.” To convey the controlled, precise look that the design team sought, the White Maple veneer was laid up in a sequenced,
Qtr. Sliced Maple Veneer
Gyp. Board
Blocking
7/16”
3/4”
3/4”
1/8”
Bloodwood Reveal Spline
2”
Qtr. Sawn Maple Base
Scribe Base to floor 3/4”
3The long, smooth custom built credenza in the boardroom features a dark, rich top to contrast with the light Maple paneling and flooring.
VERTICAL SECTION @ Wall Panels Winter 2008
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Bearing Point Office Space 5 The visitor waiting area highlights the
32”
compelling contrast in woodwork and the
20”
contemporary design of the space.
matched pattern. Coupled with the rich, dark Bloodwood accent milled with repetitive eighth-inch dados, a crisp, contemporary look was accomplished. White Maple was selected for its consistent grain and color, and relative availability, reports Lewis. The accent band of Bloodwood was selected for its vibrant color punch that is believed will last over time.
12”
“Absolute Black” Granite Tops
3”
Qtr. Sliced Maple Panel
Qtr. Sliced Maple Panel
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42” 37”
The Challenges
The Bloodwood accents with eighthinch by eighth-inch scoring, and coordinating the panel reveals to align with tile grout joints throughout the space was the most intricate and noteworthy aspect of the project, says Hass. “We had to engineer the panel system to achieve the minimum reveals desired.” “While renovated several times, the concrete structure within which Bearing Point chose to lease space was, we were told, over 100 years old,” points out Freedman. “Little about the shell was straight or true, and the intentional bend in the building was at
3-7/8”
Qtr. Sliced Maple Panel
30-1/4”
30” Bloodwood Accent grain Maple 3-3/4” 6-1/4”
16”
8”
22-1/4”
6-3/4”
3-3/4”
10-1/2” 32-3/4”
VERTICAL SECTION @ Reception Desk
Bearing Point Office Space The cool, crisp custom reception desk
against the White Maple paneling highlights the contemporary expression achieved by the design team.
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Bearing Point Office Space
an unusual angle. Additionally, demolition revealed several structural elements that needed to be designed into what we thought to be a completed scheme. Finally, the close relationship between the joints in the floor tile and the reveals in the wall panels made for unusually tight tolerances.” At Bearing Point, Snyder says several items stand out as challenging and particularly noteworthy. “First, the consistency and quality of the figured grain of the wall panels is extraordinary. Second, the lines in the wall panels align perfectly with the grout lines in the floor tile. Third, the beautiful
detailing and finish of the Bloodwood band. And lastly, that the architectural woodwork company was able to get it all produced on time!” W o r k i n g S m o o t h ly
Freedman and Lewis describe their working relationship with Legere Group as being very good, especially considering the schedule constraints and intricacy of the work. “The Legere team definitely made an effort to understand the thinking behind the design, and they genuinely cared about our satisfaction with their work both in fabrication and installa-
tion,” Freedman says. “They produced high quality work with complex detailing within a tight schedule.” The woodworking firm agrees the project ran smoothly. “It was a great working relationship and particularly satisfactory as this was our first experience working with The M Group and with the project architect who was very knowledgeable about architectural woodwork.” Now complete, the 15,000 square foot office space is warm and inviting for clients and guests, as well as comfortable and functional for Bearing Point staff.
Project:
Bearing Point Office Space Greenwich, CT
Project Owner:
Bearing Point McLean, VA
Woodworker:
Legere Group Ltd.
Architect:
The M Group Architects
Vienna, VA
General Contractor:
Ahearn Holtzman, Inc.
Port Chester, NY
Photographer:
Suticha Mungkornkarn
Vienna, VA
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Avon, CT