COMMERCIAL OFFICE BUILDINGS
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FORUM STUDIO AND MAYER HASBANI ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE A STRATEGIC ALLIANCE, ROOTED IN A SET OF SHARED VALUES, COMPLEMENTARY DESIGN APPROACH, AND A LONG AND FRUITFUL FRIENDSHIP.
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By collaborating across borders and disciplines, our partnership will deliver compelling and iconic architecture to commercial clients in Latin America and beyond. Forum Studio is a full-service architecture firm distinguished by its thoughtful and rigorous approach to contemporary design challenges. The firm’s leaders have worked with some of the world’s top corporate clients on complex and critical projects, from headquarters that transform the operations of Fortune 500 brands to flexible workplaces that support the ambitions of emerging entrepreneurs. Regardless of scale, Forum Studio conducts in-depth marketplace research and design discovery that leads to unique, right-sized solutions. Recognized by multiple awards and publications, Forum Studio is among the world’s leading design experts. In Mayer Hasbani, Forum Studio has found a likeminded partner. Founded by a prominent Mexico City-based architect and development expert, the firm quickly established a reputation for innovative, high-quality work. Its portfolio of residential and commercial work features bold design, inventive materiality, and a commitment to delivering value to the end-user. Additionally, given its history of working in the region, Mayer Hasbani has gained remarkable insight into developing, designing, and building projects in Latin America. Together, Forum Studio and Mayer Hasbani are uniquely suited to work in the exciting, dynamic Latin American marketplace. Clients will benefit from a seamless partnership, with the leadership of both firms focused on client service and a straightforward process. The firms’ leaders have already collaborated formally and informally on major work throughout Mexico. Now, with an exclusive alliance, the firms will leverage their combined experience to design signature projects in collaboration with the region’s most discerning clients.
Jay Longo President, Forum Studio
Jennifer Park Principal, Forum Studio
Mayer Hasbani Partner, Mayer Hasbani
Arturo Perez Rivera Partner, Mayer Hasbani
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ORGANIZATION The Forum Studio and Mayer Hasbani strategic alliance has deep expertise and experience in delivering complex projects throughout the world. The leadership team of Jay Longo, Mayer Hasbani, Jennifer Park, and Arturo Perez Rivera work in close collaboration, sharing client communication, architectural design, and project management responsibilities. Meyer Hasbani lends valuable insight into local market conditions, policy issues, and executional and operational context. Forum Studio leads research and design efforts based on a thorough understanding of global industry trends, innovative design and fabrication processes, and the needs of complex commercial clients.
Forum Studio
Global expertise
Mayer Hasbani
Local professional
PROCESS The Forum Studio and Meyer Hasbani strategic alliance has a seamless creative process which leverages the team’s global expertise, local knowledge, and technology to research, conceive, and deliver world-class design. The leadership team will remain intimately involved in all stages of the process.
Research
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Concept
Design
Construction
Forum Studio is a next-generation design practice that harnesses the power of innovation and collaboration to solve complex challenges. We serve a diverse range of national and international clients, leveraging our expertise in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, urban planning and engineering.
MAYER HASBANI is a young firm that creates functional, aesthetic and innovative spaces that address our clients’ needs at the same time their stimulating design helps enhance quality-of-life. Reflection as well as rigorous architectural and urban analysis— executed before any project is undertaken—are key elements of our work process. We are interested in establishing a dialogue with the environments into which our work is situated, to place it into context and discover its corresponding integrated design solutions.
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INNOVATIVE THINKING
a family of experts At Forum Studio, we provide responsive, responsible and respected architectural, interiors, landscape architecture, urban design, and planning solutions for our clients by creating great environments for their customers and communities. Design thinking Forum Studio delivers more than a building. Rather, the exploratory process, marked by thoughtful research and creative insights, produces tangible value for the client. Investment in experimentation Forum Studio is continually searching for new and better materials, processes, and partnerships. It experiments with fabrication techniques and prototypes multiple solutions throughout the design process. Advanced technology Forum Studio embraces technology in the office and in the field. It develops custom applications and incorporates practices from other disciplines in order to improve knowledge-sharing, ensure efficiency, and expedite delivery. Collaboration Working with colleagues from across the Clayco family, Forum Studio accesses a wide range of expertise in real estate, engineering, construction, materials science, and other disciplines. Additionally, Forum Studio collaborates widely with technologists, visual artists, biologists, anthropologists and others who bring a fresh perspective to design.
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planning
interior design
landscape architecture
sustainability
BIM
urban design
architecture
estimating
engineering
TAG
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INNOVATIVE THINKING
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across continents, across scales From boutique showrooms to high-rise headquarters, from pocket parks to regional masterplans, from the smallest detail to the grandest vision, Forum Studio’s design responds to every scale. Forum Studio’s full-service, integrated approach ensures that a right-sized design solution addresses the unique challenges of every project.
Left A masterplan for approximately 4080 hectares of land in Quizanga, a town on the outskirts of Recife, Brazil
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EXPERT APPROACH
Forum Integrated Thinking
We founded our design firm to be that single forum that would bring together all of the capabilities of the master builder in a collaborative, creative, and inclusive process. We convene the needed expertise, when it is needed, at our table. Beyond the disciplines of Architecture and Interior Design, our team boasts world-class talent in Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning & Design. Further, we regularly partner with experts, from economists to biologists, to expand our capabilities and benefits to our clients. Forum Studio is where trust creates the time and space for innovation.
architecture
interior architecture
landscape architecture
urban planning & design
Programming
Interior Architecture
Site Design
Mixed-Use Development
Functional Planning
Programming
Campus Design
Town Centers
Site Integration
Space Planning
Urban Parks + Public Spaces
Conceptual Design
Workplace Strategy
Greenways + Waterfronts
Sustainability Systems
Change Management
Parks + Trails
Urban Revitalization
Value Design
Sustainability Systems
Plazas + Public Spaces
Brownfield Development
Building Systems Technologies
Tenant Improvements
Green Roofs
Design Guidelines
Facility Management
Sculptures + Memorials
Construction Documents
Interior Systems Technologies
Restorative Gardens
Visioning + Strategic Planning
BIM + VDC
Plazas + Streetscapes
Acoustic + Lighting Design
Storm Water Strategies
Building Representation
FF&E Procurement
Ecosystem Restoration
Regional + Community Planning
Commissioning
Interiors Representation
Product Design
Master Planning
Post Occupancy Evaluation
Post-Occupancy Evaluation
Campus Planning Site Planning + Design Regulatory Agency Approval Public Engagement Portfolio Optimization
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a deep, technical expertise
sustainability
tag
bim
Sustainability is an integral part of how we practice. Embracing the principles of green design, we have established an active program that helps to educate our clients about the value of sustainably designed and built facilities, including the pursuit of LEED certification.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GROUP
BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING
Quality control and consistency are traditional hallmarks of design and construction’s best practices. With our focus on next practices, we are integrating an experienced cadre of planners, architects, and engineers, who know how to maximize construction quality and minimize costs, into our team of holistic problem solvers.
BIM is but one of several powerful programs within the Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) toolbox. More than simply a 3D representation of project and a phenomenal storehouse of building information, BIM technology facilitates the collaboration that is essential for integrated project delivery.
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OUR PERSPECTIVE
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the nature of cities CHIP CRAWFORD
CHIP CRAWFORD SENIOR PRINCIPAL
Looking back, it was interesting that throughout recent election years, in debate after debate, the most impactful asset we have—our cities—has not been a topic on any candidate’s agenda. On the other hand, at the CEO’s for Cities conference held in Boston, Ed Glaeser, professor of economics at Harvard, gave an amazing talk about the impact of cities on the development of human capital, our most optimistic driver of innovation, and ultimately our economic destiny. There seems to be no learning substitute for bumping into one another and sharing what we know. Density does matter, and clearly the greater the density, the more opportunities for innovation. As a landscape architect and urban designer, this is where I live. I see the role of cities as the ultimate convener, the reason why and how people from all walks of life come together and collectively share their experiences, and achieve great things. Still I wonder where is nature in this equation? It seems so short sighted to skip the ‘Motherof-all-mentors’. I would argue that the density or connectivity to nature, is just as much a catalyst of innovation as human density (and then some!). Innovation is not just a human-to-human benefit. There is as much, if not more, to learn from interaction with the natural systems in our cities and nature’s 3.8 billion years of managing complexity.
...connectivity to nature, is just as much a catalyst of innovation as human density... one of our biggest project teams including professionals from all disciplines, with a biomimicry strategist to evaluate our current designs through nature’s design lens. What came out of the session was the profound realization that we can be doing so much more to leverage synergies, optimize the complex systems instead of maximizing them, and better integrate our work into the natural genius of the place. All it took was just a slight shift in perspective to open a world of new opportunities for this project and our client. Our work with Bimimicry 3.8 has taught us that we have it all right here at our fingertips. We have these amazing places, our cities. We have access to incredible information about them. And we have 3.8 billion years of nature’s wisdom in solving the very same challenges that we face. So we’ve set our sights to achieve a new level of urbanism that recognizes both the benefits of human interaction, as well as the incredible benefits of nature’s genius. The solutions to building great cities are right here, all around us.
At Forum Studio, we’ve been focused on how we can better design for the new realities of the ways people live, work, and play. Taking cues from nature’s genius is our next big thing. Most recently, we convened
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FORUM STUDIO EXPERIENCE
LEED GOLD
(EXPECTED)
Gateway Plaza MCGUIRE WOODS CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
Created from the inside out to meet the unique needs of leading-edge companies.
LOCATION RICHMOND, VIRGINIA SIZE 411,000 SQUARE FEET 16-STORY BUILDING SERVICES PROVIDED ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN INTERIOR DESIGN LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Gateway Plaza is a 19-story office tower development project in downtown Richmond, VA by developed and constructed by Clayco and Forum Studio. The development affronts the city’s defining landmark, the James River, and is situated at a popular entryway to downtown Richmond. With the garage façade encompassing a large portion of one city block, the developers sought a design for the exterior façade of the parking structure that would resonate with the both the city, tenants of the building and act as a symbolic gateway to the Richmond’s city center. In contrast to the monolithic tower, design for the garage reflects the movement and flow of the river. The façade addresses the scale of both the urban and the pedestrian; accommodating the garage and ground floor functions. Through the use of parametric scripting various panelized surface formations, panel configurations and patterns were studied for the façade. Ultimately, three profiled perforated metal panels were cut and broken into varying surface conditions and gradated onto the façade. The parametric model will be used by the façade fabricator to make the panels, closure pieces and tube supports. To limit the amount of framing and maximize openness, the panels are attached to a system of tube columns which span several floors of the garage. The result is a unified yet dynamic surface echoing the flow of the James River though the subtle inflections of the three different panel types.
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FORUM STUDIO EXPERIENCE
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FORUM STUDIO EXPERIENCE
Reinsurance Group of America (RGA)
LEED GOLD
(EXPECTED)
GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS
A 17-acre global headquarters campus with a designed site that minimizes the development impact while restoring the natural landscape from its agrarian use.
LOCATION CHESTERFIELD, MO SIZE 17 ACRES SERVICES PROVIDED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
The global headquarters for Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. will be an interactive and connective workplace that will accommodate the needs for flexibility and growth opportunities. Set on a natural 17-acre site in Chesterfield, MO, the linked two-building campus will provide office and amenity programs that will enable appropriate solutions for RGA’s different working styles and needs for future development. The proposed development comprises two five-story office workbars linked by two stories: lobby and amenity space totaling 405,000 sf. The parking and loading dock areas are located in an attached three-level parking structure consisting of two levels of below-grade employee parking, a double height loading area, and a landscaped top deck containing guest parking totaling 1,412 spaces. The buildings are integrated into the landscape in a sensitive manner that minimizes the impact of the development on the local ecosystems. The outdoor spaces aim to maintain a neighborly connectivity to the community of Chesterfield as well as variety of places for employees to connect, interact, dine and work in comfortable and convenient locations. The private ‘backyard’ consisting of a restored woodland and prairie landscape engages the site with framed views. The arrangement of the buildings on the site provides a main entrance off of Swingley Ridge Road consisting of a formal landscaped arrival plaza that provides clear and easily understood access and circulation for visitors, staff, service, and emergency vehicles.
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FORUM STUDIO EXPERIENCE
Novus International
LEED PLATINUM
GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS
The integration of interior and exterior spaces reinforces the client’s requirement of integrating science and business, providing a collaborative headquarters venue with bold forms and materials that are responsibly expressed.
LOCATION WELDON SPRING, MISSOURI SIZE 90,000 SF SERVICES PROVIDED ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
Novus International, a global developer of animal health and nutrition programs, partnered with Forum to create a new global headquarters facility in the Missouri Research Park in Weldon Spring, Missouri. The design-build project included renovation of Novus’ existing 42,000-square-foot building and construction of a 48,000-square-foot addition with ten research laboratories, a state-of-the-art employee and customer training center, a fitness center, a library, and a coffee bar. Glazed curtainwall, skylights, and floor-to-ceiling windows allow for natural light. The global headquarters meets LEED Platinum specifications of the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED Platinum strategies included diverting more than 98 percent of waste from landfills, using more than ten percent salvaged and previously used building materials, increasing the amount of open space on the site by more than 78 percent, and eliminating the use of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) in all refrigerant equipment. Additionally, 5,000 square feet of solar panels were installed—the single largest solar array in the state of Missouri.
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FORUM STUDIO EXPERIENCE
LEED GOLD
Chevron Gulf of Mexico Operations CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
Within 14 months of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation of downtown New Orleans and Chevron’s Gulf Operations Center, this missioncritical building was designed, built, and delivered.
LOCATION COVINGTON, LOUISIANA SIZE 300,000 SF FOUR & THREE-STORY WINGS 600 CAR-PARKING GARAGE SERVICES PROVIDED CORE & SHELL ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN LANDSCAPE DESIGN
This headquarters for Chevron’s Gulf of Mexico Operations is the first LEED Gold certified project in the state of Louisiana and was Chevron’s first LEED project. The environmentally sustainable principles and practices designed into this facility and its twenty-acre site reflect Chevron’s commitment to the environment and their desire to attract and retain the best and brightest employees who share these values. The office was organized as a double-winged building connected by a common link. The wings are formed by site-cast concrete tilt-up panels. Windows and articulated spandrels reinforce the horizontal expression of the building. The connecting link is clad in glass, providing expansive views to the surrounding landscape. A cafeteria and wellness center is located adjacent to the south wing, featuring a loggia that protects the users from sun exposure and creating an engaging semi-exterior space. Other features include a five-story concrete parking garage, a courtyard, a walking/running track, four lakes, and a pavilion for outdoor gatherings.
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FORUM STUDIO EXPERIENCE
LEED CERTIFIED
Zenith Ridge MASTER PLAN, LANDSCAPE, AND OFFICE BUILDING DESIGN
The thoughtful master plan takes advantage of orientation and landscape to create a unique campus environment
LOCATION PITTSBURGH, PA SIZE 35 ACRES SERVICES PROVIDED MASTER PLANNING ARCHITECTURE
Southpointe II, a 117-acre master planned mixed use development in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, will become home to three new office buildings for Burns & Scalo Real Estate Services. The project consists of three five-story buildings clad in brick masonry and metal cornice accents. Building 1 is 183,000 square feet and will be a build-to-suite project for ANSYS, an engineering simulation software company. Building 2 and 3 are each 151,000 square foot speculative office buildings. The thoughtful master plan provides a campus like setting through building sitting, landscape design, and pedestrian links between the buildings. Taking full advantage of the location, the building’s configuration, orientation and the fenestration optimizes views for its tenants to the surrounding Pittsburgh hillside. In addition, the buildings are uniquely positioned to enhance their presence from the I-79 corridor to the south. The sustainable building design meets LEED Core & Shell Certified level. The highly efficient floor plates are designed to work with multitenant configurations and offer column-free exterior walls. Building vertical circulation is arranged at the center core of the plan providing uninterrupted exterior perimeter walls with floor to ceiling glass.
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TRANSFORMATIVE DESIGN FOR A CHANGING WORLD Forum Studio’s holistic approach extends beyond the narrow boundaries of a project. Economic development, the environment, finance and politics—these issues inform complex projects as profoundly as the program. Our work engages the full spectrum of stakeholder concerns to create designs that maximize the potential for transformation. Every project has far-reaching impact on the users of the space, the community and the environment. We bring a sense of urgency along with our experience as we work with our clients to realize their visions of a better, more fulfilling future for their company, their campus or their city.
Forum Studio’s award-winning proposal for a site in downtown Chicago envisions an urban park that is an ecologically diverse habitat for adventure and discovery FORUM STUDIO | 29
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WHAT WILL BE YOUR LEGACY? Your challenges are our inspiration. Our energies are focused on the opportunity to create meaningful, effective, and enduring new environments. Working together we can help you achieve your goals and make your mark. We look forward to being part of your vision.
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FORUM STUDIO
MAYER HASBANI
35 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 1300
 Chicago, IL 60601 p +1 312 658 0747
Paseo de los Laureles 458, Torre BPH2 - Bosques de las Lomas Cuajimalpa 05120 Mexico, D.F. p +52 55 5241 0975