branding interiors
analysis
introduction
process
move-in
Devel o p in g c om p a n y b r a nd through r edesign: D BI d e s i g n s th e new hea dqua r ter s f or
introduction
As an enterprise IT company that develops missioncritical software for the federal government, A-TEK, Inc. relies on the vigor and distinction of its brand to stand out from its industry competitors and to attract topnotch talent. The company, to foster its market identity and establish a strong presence in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, hired DBI to consolidate its two offices into one new headquarters in 2016.
DBI embarked on A-TEK’s project by conducting programmatic visioning sessions— meetings in which DBI’s design team and A-TEK’s key stakeholders discussed the company’s existing and desired workplace standards and physical space needs; communications structure and workflow processes; work culture and environment; staff composition and preferences; and objectives, brand, and strategy. DBI, after analyzing the information gathered during visioning, developed a program articulating A-TEK’s quantitative and qualitative requirements, which included the development of larger workstation space standards to facilitate an open, team-based working environment; the right-sizing of offices to
analysis
accommodate required meeting areas; the implementation of low-panel workstations and glass walls to provide visual connectivity among staff and to enhance the flow of natural light; and, perhaps most vital to bringing about A-TEK’s desired transformation, the top-to-bottom, resonant branding of the company’s new home. Having established a basis for planning and design direction, DBI and A-TEK scouted three possible spaces for the company’s new headquarters and selected one in Tysons Corner, Virginia, a location that provided proximity to A-TEK’s chief clientele. As a start-up in 1996, the company had one office in Leesburg, Virginia for nearly 16 years. In early 2012, A-TEK relocated from Virginia to Ellicott City, Maryland and leased two offices to accommodate staff living in either state. Although these new offices received minor updates, they still did not reflect the company’s mission or brand. Now, 20 years later, as an established firm that had defined its identity within its industry, A-TEK was eager not only to “put down roots” and sign a 10-year lease but also to announce and highlight its brand throughout its new space. The company set about rebranding itself, focusing on its logo—a triangular “arrow” divided into quadrants of color that represent A-TEK’s key client industries, including federal civilian, national security, medical, and law enforcement sectors. DBI, interpreting the logo as a distillation of A-TEK’s mission and brand, proceeded to base the entire design for the company’s new home on this simple, yet elegant, symbol. The logo’s four colors (lime green, lipstick pink, and sequin and sky blue) provided the foundation for the office’s overall palette. When designing to illuminate a brand, DBI often
analysis
weaves corporate logos, colors, and values throughout a space, merging these elements into a unified design approach. Yet basing the entire design strategy for A-TEK’s 10,000-SF office on a single shape found on the company’s business card was particularly creative and resourceful—and demonstrates how powerful and inspiring even the simplest design concept can be. “It was so rewarding to watch something simple and small transform into something great,” Project Director Michael Boyer comments. Having identified the company’s logo as the project’s conceptual core, the design team proceeded to develop a comprehensive strategy.
process
DESIGN DEV
TEST-FITS
VISIONING
SPACE PLANNING
VELOPMENT
CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION
VISIONING
TENANT B
COPY / WORKROOM
196 SF
IT WORKROOM BREAKROOM 167 SF 1246 SF WKST 7-6X7
WKST 7-6X7 WKST 7-6X7
PRINTER
LAN
COFFEE/ COATS
WKST 7-6X7
186 SF
WKST 7-6X7
WKST 7-6X7
STORAGE
FILES
STORAGE
120 SF
94 SF
101 SF
62 SF
B OFFICE WKST 7-6X7
OPEN TEAM AREA
COE DEMO ROOM
139 SF 174 SF
RECEPTION
B OFFICE
FEATURE WALL WKST 7-6X7
180 SF
WKST 7-6X7
WKST 7-6X7
FEATURE WALL
WKST 7-6X7
LARGE CONFERENCE
C OFFICE
C OFFICE
C OFFICE
C OFFICE
C OFFICE
C OFFICE
C OFFICE
C OFFICE
137 SF
124 SF
123 SF
124 SF
124 SF
124 SF
117 SF
124 SF
524 SF
CEO OFFICE
B OFFICE
B OFFICE
B OFFICE
CONFERENCE
CONFERENCE
180 SF
180 SF
180 SF
241 SF
240 SF
254 SF
STAFF SPACE COUNTS
SUPPORT SPACE COUNTS
STAFF SPACE
SUPPORT SPACE
B OFFICE C OFFICE CEO OFFICE WKST 7-6X7
COUNT 5 8 1 11 25
BREAKROOM COE DEMO ROOM COFFEE/ COATS CONFERENCE COPY / WORKROOM FILES IT WORKROOM LAN LARGE CONFERENCE OPEN TEAM AREA PRINTER RECEPTION STORAGE 7,902 USF - A-TEK 7,575 USF - TENANT B
8614 WESTWOOD CENTER DRIVE - 5TH FLOOR A-TEK - TEST FIT REVISION 07/17/15
TEST-FITS
COUNT 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 15
SCOPE OF WORK
STAFF SPACE COUNTS STAFF SPACE
COUNT
B OFFICE C OFFICE CEO OFFICE WKST 7-6 X 7
5 6 1 12 24
SUPPORT SPACE COUNTS SUPPORT SPACE
TENANT C
COUNT
TENANT D BREAKROOM/ CAFE COATS COE DEMO ROOM CONFERENCE CONFERENCE ROOM COPIER/ WORKROOM FILE ROOM IT WORKROOM LAN ROOM LARGE CONFERENCE RECEPTION STORAGE
1 2 2 4 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 4 24
8,328 USF - A-TEK
SCOPE OF WORK CEO OFFICE
CONFERENCE 258 SF
B OFFICE
B OFFICE
179 SF
190 SF
256 SF
LARGE CONFERENCE
370 SF
LAN ROOM
B OFFICE 60 SF
COE DEMO ROOM
RECEPTION
IT WORKROOM
214 SF
175 SF
FILE ROOM 191 SF
175 SF B OFFICE
STORAGE 214 SF 107 SF COATS CONFERENCE 167 SF
TENANT B
B OFFICE
COPIER/ WORKROOM
214 SF 290 SF STORAGE 95 SF
C OFFICE WKST 7-6 X 7
WKST 7-6 X 7
WKST 7-6 X 7
WKST 7-6 X 7
WKST 7-6 X 7
WKST 7-6 X 7 141 SF
C OFFICE 148 SF WKST 7-6 X 7
WKST 7-6 X 7
WKST 7-6 X 7
WKST 7-6 X 7
WKST 7-6 X 7
WKST 7-6 X 7
CONFERENCE ROOM
BREAKROOM/ CAFE
288 SF
C OFFICE
C OFFICE
C OFFICE
C OFFICE
143 SF
154 SF
154 SF
157 SF
1430 SPRING HILL ROAD - 4TH FLOOR SCOPE OF WORK A-TEK - TEST FIT REVISION 07/17/15
C OFFICE 165 SF
STAFF SPACE C STAFF SPACE
B OFFICE 203 SF
CONFERENCE
LARGE CONFERENCE
112 SF
B OFFICE
B OFFICE
162 SF
187 SF
CEO OFFICE B OFFICE C OFFICE WKST 6x7 WKST 7x9 WKST 8x8
COE DEMO ROOM
497 SF
173 SF COFFEE C OFFICE
C OFFICE
166 SF
C OFFICE 155 SF
C OFFICE
FILES
MAIL/COPY
240 SF
83 SF
RECEPTION
COPY / WORKROOM
583 SF
279 SF
164 SF
155 SF
LAN ROOM 92 SF
WKST 6x7
SUPPORT SPACE SUPPORT SPACE
C OFFICE
BREAKROOM COATS COE DEMO ROOM COFFEE CONFERENCE COPY / WORKROOM FILES IT WORKROOM LAN ROOM LARGE CONFERENCE MAIL/COPY RECEPTION STORAGE
C OFFICE
WKST 8x8
155 SF
155 SF WKST 6x7
COATS
WKST 8x8 C OFFICE
WKST 6x7
155 SF
ELEC.
B OFFICE
JANITOR
235 SF
WKST 8x8
MECHANICAL
WOMENS IT WORKROOM CEO OFFICE
CONFERENCE
WKST 8x8
108 SF
MENS
235 SF
STAIR 2
358 SF
7,724 USF - A-TEK
7,441 USF - TENANT B
STORAGE
STAIR 1
WKST 8x8
98 SF WKST 8x8
WKST 7x9
BREAKROOM
WKST 7x9
551 SF
B OFFICE 206 SF
TENANT B
The DBI team explored the logo’s geometric variations and, ultimately, created a sculptural web wall by tilting and rotating its quadrant boundaries. Recognizing the originality and dynamism of this shape, the designers began to conceptualize its transformation from a micro to macro scale—from the company’s business card to a monumental branding wall in its new reception area. Uniting brand development with the design process, DBI first handsketched the “web wall” and, next, collaborated with millworkers to determine how the web’s components were to engage. After countless design and materials variations, the “web wall” was installed opposite the reception desk as the main backdrop to the seating area. A multi-layered composite of resilient MDF (medium-density fiberboard), the white web structure distinctly projects from the substrate, forming multiple inverted arrow shapes in the form’s negative space. A-TEK’s four corporate colors light a single arrow within the wall, providing a focal point.
DESIGN DEVELO
OPMENT
SPACE PLANNING
REC
A-TEK’s contoured and colorful arrow logo inspired the office’s wayfinding elements and signage by providing directional impetus and organizational structure. As visitors enter and proceed through the space, the arrow appears not only as a branding statement, but also as a graphic gesture encouraging circulation along a general route. DBI also implemented the use of “color families,” wherein each corporate color and its associated hues separate and identify different office zones. Running along every internal glass window, colored film bands and arrows further delineate these areas and provide a simple visual cue for navigating the space. In addition, each of A-TEK’s four conference rooms is finished in one of the company’s four corporate hues. In the breakroom, these colors are playfully bundled to emphasize the space’s collaborative and jovial nature. Even in the workstation area, the company’s brand is highlighted through the application of a wall covering, spanning the entire space, that superimposes “textual snapshots” describing A-TEK’s divisions, services, methods, and customer sectors over its signature web wall graphic.
LOBBY PRIVATE OFFICES OPEN OFFICES MEETING ROOMS CONFERENCE
SUPPORT SPACE
OFFICE
OFFICE
167 SF
186 SF
CEO OFFICE 322 SF
273 SF
CEO RECEPTION
CEPTION
LARGE CONFERENCE 318 SF
OFFICE
119 SF
C OFFICE
144 SF
HR FILES
131 SF COE
OFFICE
133 SF
214 SF
COFFEE
COATS
TEAM ROOM OFFICE
CONFERENCE 261 SF STAIR B
214 SF
CONTRACT/ACCT. FILES
OFFICE
BRANDING
141 SF COPY/ WORK ROOM
IT LAB
LAN ROOM
178 SF
121 SF
121 SF
SUPPLY OFFICE
63 SF
148 SF
BREAKROOM 425 SF
CONFERENCE OFFICE
OFFICE
OFFICE
OFFICE
152 SF
140 SF
231 SF
232 SF
289 SF
COE 453
C OFFICE 454
OFFICE 457
CEO RECEPTION 459
OFFICE 458
CONFERENCE 456
AI400
17
25
2 E
3
3
4 A
9
12
3
2 E
2
AI401
9" 9"
9" 2' - 10"
9" 9"
3
R C
9"
AI402 ALIGN
20 1
AI402
7
1 R B
7
1 B
1 B
7
1
13
7 1 B
1 1 B
6
1 B
7
6
R B 1
7
9
2 1'-0"
5 COPY/ WORK ROOM 472
BREAKROOM 471
CONFERENCE 473
CORRIDOR 481
IT LAB 474 OFFICE 470
OFFICE 469 LAN ROOM 475
7
6 4
6
1 B
R C
10
ALIGN
1
4' - 10"
3
AI402
ALIGN
8' - 0"
14
9"
5
1
11
ALIGN
8'-5"
26
6
13
23
8' - 0"
1 3
1 B
20
ALIGN
R D
4
3
20
3 AI600
4
ALIGN X X
5' - 0". MIN
AI401
6
7
5' - 0"
1
1
AI401
6 1
4
R D
9" 5
16 20
7
3 F
ALIGN
1
22
5' - 0"
13
6
6
7
6
18
5' - 0" HOLD
2
STAIR B
6
ALIGN
AI401
9
3 1
5
3
4
ALIGN
3
1
3
27 4 A
13' - 11"
1 B
R D
4' - 3"
1
1 B
4' - 1"
24
23'-3"
2
AI400
1 B
ALIGN
6
R A
6
1 ALIGN
10' - 0"
3
1
ALIGN
15
21
7
1 B
5' - 0" HOLD
ALIGN
14' - 0"
6
1
8
8'-2"
19
5' - 0" HOLD
7 R A
19
XX X2
25
2
COFFEE 452
4' - 3"
COATS 450A
9
22
5' - 0"
RECEPTION 450
1'-4"
LARGE CONFERENCE 451
1 AI601
CEO OFFIC 460
SUPPLY 477 ELEC. CLOSET 477A
OFFICE 468
OFFICE 467
8
CE
OFFICE 461 HR FILES 455
OFFICE 462 OPEN OFFICE 479 TEAM ROOM 478
OFFICE 463
CONTRACT/ACCT. FILES 476 OPEN OFFICE 480 OFFICE 464
OFFICE 465
CONFERENCE 466
22
2
CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION
Project Management/Broker:
CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD MEP Engineer:
BLUE MOON ENGINEERING General Contractor:
LANSDOWNE CONSTRUCTION LLC Signage/Branding:
SUI, INC.
Furniture:
WASHINGTON GROUP SOLUTIONS, INC. AV/IT Design:
KALOTHIA INC. Photography:
ERIC TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY
move-in
While staying within budget, the DBI team sought to infuse as much high-end design as possible and, to this end, reused several architectural features from the existing build-out, including all ceiling tiles, doors, and hardware, as well as some lighting—a costefficient approach that also decreased the project’s environmental footprint. Completed on time and within budget, A-TEK’s new headquarters not only unifies the company’s presence in the Washington, DC region, but also reflects its organizational identity, mission, and culture through the thoughtful and creative extrapolation of brand throughout its design. “A-TEK had the pleasure of working with Michael Boyer and his team at DBI Architects on our new office project. Using our new brand, coupled with their creativity, attention to detail, project oversight, and a genuine desire to ensure our project would be exceptionally pleasing to us, Michael and his colleague Kaitlin Dyer guided us from start to finish. From the unique architectural design, color palettes, furniture selections, and light fixtures, to the proper placement of white boards on the walls, they covered it all. Working with this team made the project less stressful because I was confident that Michael had our best interests in mind, stayed within the budget, and worked to make sure the project was delivered on time. I know who to call when I’m ready for the next project. We couldn’t be happier with our new space in Tysons Corner, VA and are grateful to have worked with Michael Boyer and the team at DBI.”
— Kathryn B. Freeland, MBA, President/CEO, A-TEK, Inc.
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