Interiors

The FMC Tower at Cira Centre South, a 49-story skyscraper combines iconic architecture with the latest in LEED-based sustainable design.

Above. Relocating from a traditional closed-office environment, FMC seized the opportunity to transform their workplace into a light-filled, open, and collaborative space.

Below. In the open-office spaces, breakout rooms, quiet areas, and corridors, the goal was to manage the acoustics.

Design Inspires Innovation And Engagement Acoustic ceilings enhance employee experience at FMC’s global headquarters.

When FMC Corp. decided to build a new global headquarters in Philadelphia, the company went to great lengths to create an environment where employees were engaged and inspired to do their best work.

Their vision for a modern-day workplace came to life as the FMC Tower at Cira Centre South, a 49-story skyscraper that combines iconic architecture with the latest in LEED-based sustainable design.

Lauded as Philadelphia’s first vertical neighborhood, FMC Tower brings together office space, residential apartments, a retail/restaurant pavilion, and amenities such as a fitness center, swimming pool, and media lounge, all under one roof. A one-acre elevated park, located atop the adjacent parking garage, serves as an outdoor retreat for FMC workers and residents of the building apartments.

Designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, New Haven, CT (pcparch.com), the stunning highrise along the western banks of the Schuylkill River stands as the tallest building in Philadelphia’s University City neighborhood, with 10-ft.-high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views of the city skyline and landscape.

Relocating from a traditional closed-office environment on the other side of the city, FMC seized the opportunity to transform their workplace into a light-filled, open, and collaborative space that capitalizes on the building’s dramatic views.

To help bring their vision to life, the company commissioned architectural firm Granum A/I, Radnor, PA (granumai.com), to design an interior space incorporating the following elements: • flexible workspaces that inspire creativity and employee engagement • a bright, naturally lit environment • sustainable materials to support the company’s commitment to sustainability.

CHALLENGE AS OPPORTUNITY The building’s angled shape presented the team at Granum with a unique challenge when designing FMC’s 10 floors of office space.

“Due to the faceted exterior shaping, every floor was different, so it took a lot of design considerations to make it work,” explained Kim Hong, interior design director at

Granum. “Because the building was designed to celebrate views and bring daylight into the core, the faceted corners offered more opportunities for perimeter views and more interesting planning.”

Granum employed a flexible strategy with a variety of different spaces such as team zones, huddle rooms, focus booths, and relaxed social settings, allowing employees to choose the work setting in which they’re most productive. Social space and quiet space anchor each floor, with office space positioned away from the perimeter wall to provide plenty of access to natural light. Meeting spaces in varying sizes and configurations support collaboration and training. Even the cafeteria and café function as work and meeting areas, serving as a crossroads for members of different departments.

“With the open-office environment, we have more variety in different types of spaces,” said Hong. “Even a corridor becomes useful, productive real estate. It’s no longer just a tunnel; it’s also used as meeting and socializing space. So acoustic performance matters.”

TARGETED ACOUSTICS Faced with balancing design with acoustic performance in the open-offi ce workstations, collaborative spaces, huddle rooms, and private offi ces, the Granum team turned to CertainTeed Ceilings, Malvern, PA (certainteed.com), for an aesthetics and acoustics solution.

Gone are the days of choosing just one ceiling tile for an entire floor or building. Now, there’s a much more thoughtful and performance-based approach to product selection that involves a targeted mix of solutions throughout a building.

Granum found the design flexibility they were looking for in CertainTeed’s Symphony ceilings collection—a complete range of acoustic solutions offering targeted performance with a consistent appearance. The line also contributed to earning LEED credits—an important consideration in meeting FMC’s sustainability goals.

Stepping in to assist Granum with the product selection, CertainTeed Ceilings sales representative Doug Depte worked in collaboration with the designers throughout the project to help them choose the right ceiling panels for the right space. “We developed a multi-product solution that would best meet the building’s needs for acoustic performance without compromising the visual impact or the budget,” Depte said.

In the open-office spaces, breakout rooms, quiet areas, and corridors, the goal was to manage the acoustics. These spaces often have a lot of ambient noise and hard surfaces that aren’t conducive to sound absorption. For these areas, Granum specified Symphony f, a fiberglass panel with a 0.95 NRC for maximum sound absorption.

The enclosed huddle rooms, conference rooms, and private offices presented a different challenge—how to contain sound and maintain speech intelligibility. Here, Symphony m provided the solution. The mineral-fiber tiles feature a denser base board that blocks sound with a CAC range of 33 to 41, delivering just the right level of noise containment in these smaller spaces.

In the kitchen, the designers knew they needed to control the acoustics, but they also wanted a solution that would address cleanliness. They selected Rx Symphony m for its blend of acoustic performance, durability, cleanability, water repellency, and stain resistance—critical features in an area where food is prepared and hygiene is a key consideration.

For the enclosed executive offices, privacy was the main concern. CertainTeed’s Adagio enables executives to have confidential conversations without the worry of being overheard in the open environment. A composite product that combines the sound-absorption properties of high-density fiberglass with the sound-containment qualities of mineral fiber, Adagio offers superior acoustical comfort and privacy. Adagio shares the same smooth finish and edge detail as the Symphony line, for a seamless visual aesthetic with targeted acoustic performance.

With a clean, white, monolithic look that reflects the abundant daylight, the Symphony and Adagio ceilings helped the design team meet one of its most important goals and highlight the building’s best feature. “We wanted to enhance the building’s highest aesthetic qualities without compromising any of the functional and sustainable decisions,” Hong explained.

A NEW WAY OF WORKING Walking through the new FMC headquarters, one can see and hear how bright and quiet the offi ce is—a testament to the power of effectively managed acoustics.

“The high ceilings with their clean lines look great and perform well,” noted Vince Carango, global director of facilities for FMC.

“Prior to the move, we heard a lot of grumbling from employees who were worried about losing their private offices and not being able to concentrate on their work.

“Now that we’re here, it’s a different story. People are embracing the openness and the flexibility of having different spaces where they can work or have a quick meeting. It’s a very positive and collaborative environment,” Carango concluded. CA

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