EVOLUTION OF CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
CHARLESTON
COLUMBIA
GREENVILLE
MYRTLE BEACH
ASHEVILLE
CHARLOTTE
GREENSBORO
RALEIGH
WILMINGTON
ATLANTA
SAVANNAH
JACKSONVILLE
FIRM QUALIFICATIONS
Who We Are
Established in 1963, LS3P is a multidisciplinary firm offering architecture, interiors, and planning services to a wide variety of clients nationwide.
Central to all regions of the Southeast with offices in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, Wilmington, Atlanta, Savannah, and Jacksonville, LS3P is committed to bringing state-ofthe-art design, technology, and expertise of a strong regional firm closer to our clients on a local level. With a staff of over 470 employees, we have the resources to offer total design capabilities from site selection to occupancy, yet we are small enough to give personal attention to each client. Our practice leaders serve a broad array of markets including aviation and transportation, military and government, higher education, healthcare, K-12 education, hospitality, historic preservation, commercial, worship, and residential. The firm’s extensive design portfolio also includes specialized expertise in civic, parks and recreation, and other projects.
We Follow Human Centered Design methods to better understand your workplace needs and desires. Combine that with our deep knowledge of current office trends you can count on us to deliver an excellent and thoughtful solution. A wide variety of actors influence your space needs, especially when the attraction and retention of new talent is such a strong driver in the current workplace. We look forward to creating a positive and interactive office environment that reflects your company’s history and showcases it’s forward-thinking dedication to innovation. We believe that forming a clear Vision will build the framework necessary to foster good decision making.
Our approach to design is highly collaborative, with our clients’ needs always at the forefront. Above all else, we strive to understand, help define, and realize your vision. We are deeply committed to the communities we serve, and our goal is to design meaningful, inspiring places which are also durable, flexible, and sustainable. We design spaces for transformation: spaces for healthier and more productive workplaces, spaces for more effective education, spaces to facilitate healing, spaces which improve the retail experience in a competitive marketplace, or spaces which support the rapidly changing needs of our armed forces. Our mission, to “engage, design, and transform,” is our commitment, our guiding principle, and, indeed, our philosophy.
19,000,000
LS3P has designed over 19M square feet of LEED-Certified projects
As a signatory of the AIA 2030 Commitment, LS3P is reaching new heights in designs for carbon neutrality by 2030
$700,000,000
LS3P has delivered over $700,000,000 in sustainable construction value
We have more than 130 team members with expertise in LEED and WELL design guidelines
WORKPLACE STRATEGY
Approach to Design
We will establish key goals & objectives specific to your project
COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION ENVIRONMENT TO BE ESTABLISHED
The following outlines our process based on a working knowledge of similar workplace typologies. Listed below are the steps involved in our predesign process.
VISIONING
LS3P invests in a strong beginning to short cycle the design process. LS3P will host a VISIONING WORKSHOP (advance planning charrette) to discover the heart of the client’s priorities and refine the project scope. We will convene the Owner, facilities representatives, AV/IT staff, project manager(s) and others you designate with senior members of the design team for a 1/2 day workshop. We all have a vested interest to ensure the resulting work plan and interior workplace meet the current and long term needs of Synchrony. It is an open forum welcoming the opinions of those who have operational priorities and requirements. We temper the ideas with our lessons learned and emerging trends in the marketplace.
Visioning Session
As part of the workshop, we work through the individual detail requirements for users in order to reconcile priorities, uncover challenges and test budgets. Our inclusive charrette process has proven the best vehicle for design and value analysis. This rapid-start tactic accelerates the schematic phase of design and decision making. By including A/E design team members with the client early in the process, we reduce redundancies and potential omissions.
VISIONING STATEMENT Example
NORTH CAROLINA EDUCATION CAMPUS
“Weaving Through North Carolina”
Project Goal: Be the center of collaboration for the future of education and small business in the state of North Carolina.
Concept: The distinct regions of North Carolina come together under one roof and inspire different spaces of the workplace. This mirrors the consolidation of the departments and aims to continuously connect them with the people and places they serve.
Research: Increased Employee Satisfaction
84% of employees agree that supporting the health of employees is a “must have” for companies
96% of employees agree that a healthy work environment is necessary for employee productivity
81% agree that their company’s physical work environment has a major impact on their health and well-being
https://www.capitalonecareers.com/workspace-design-through-data-how-capital-one-works-cul-101-work
Ally
Great design is a collaborative effort that begins with purpose and a deep understanding of our client’s goals. We prioritize getting to know our clients early in the process, aiming to answer more questions than are asked. Trust, communication, and mutual respect form the foundation of our relationship with clients, allowing us to uncover their needs and address non-architectural issues through design. We iterate through multiple options together with our clients to ensure we arrive at the best solution . This mutual trust enables us to create design responsibilities that resonate deeply resulting in outcomes that benefit building occupants, clients and communities.
2019
• Traditional business model with Management and team oriented structure
• Density & location focused
• Paycheck motivated
• Product / sales / deliverables
2020
• Social drivers to get employees back into the workplace
• The amenities arms race
• Social events & activities
• In office incentives Culture
2025
• Human-focused design
• Where & how do people like to work
• Mental health & well-being driven
• Biophilia & access to outdoor space and nature
• Taking inspirations from the home / personal environments “The 50’ Office” People
Sharing Hope
Ally Financial
TEN30
Moving beyond the workstation and the break room. Five space that are no longer optional in todays’ headquarters include:
1 2 3
Employees work beyond their desk. Many find they need an alternative space beyond 2 hours
Zones
Can be library, or other tech free zone Spaces that are not traditional conference rooms. Seating may allow for different set up that is more relaxed and not forcing one to pick sides immediately upon entering
Focus Rooms Access to Outdoors
Deep concentration is often required. Intimate spaces that are acoustically separated are important
With an increase in wellbeing and the undeniable science behind the benefits to just 5 or 10 minutes of fresh air providing some type of opportunity for an extension to the workplace is critical. If this can not be done on the workplace floor. Encouraging the use of a building amenity space that is outdoors is encouraged. 4 5
A culture of productivity A model where every team member has a dedicated space to sit, plug-in and be productive, it is crucial to develop a culture where every team member has a dedicated space to sit, plug-in, and be productive.
56 EMPLOYEES IN 4,535 SF
In an onsite role that requires staff to be in the office 4-5 days a week, the seat to employee ratio is 1:1.
Hybrid Workstyles support different work styles When a hybrid work model is adopted, multiple employees can utilize a single desk space, allowing for square footage to be maximized.
*Ratios vary considerably across different companies
In a hybrid office, workspaces can be shared amongst staff, leading to more optimized footprints.
Saved space can be used for collaboration space or additional seating
Example Metric
Charlotte, NC
This new 80-acre campus in Charlotte, NC’s University Research Park paves the way for the next generation of offices focused on top-tier recruiting, retention, and agile operations. The campus development includes approximately one million SF of office space within two office buildings with dining, café, fitness facilities, and clinic amenities.
The site orientation creates contiguous clusters of buildings in an east/west orientation wrapping a water feature which serves as a central activity hub. The exterior prioritizes transparency to create a sense of “working in a treehouse.” Vertical facade elements abstract a tree’s trunks and branches. Inside, the awe-inspiring entry lobby atrium acts as the buildings’ primary organizational element and serves as the central and most significant collaboration space. “Treehouse” meeting space experiences scattered throughout the buildings provide unique collaboration opportunities as people rise through the buildings on monumental open staircases.
YEAR COMPLETED
2023
SIZE
1,000,000 SF
AWARDS
CREW Charlotte Design Impact Award Winner 2024; AIA Charlotte Design Merit Award 2024
LIVE OAK BANK CORPORATE CAMPUS
Wilmington, NC
Our goal as a bank is for each client that comes in the door to feel like they are our only customer. That’s the experience I get from LS3P.”
Chip Mahan Live Oak Bank Chief Executive Officer
Live Oak Bank’s Wilmington, NC campus celebrates its serene forested site while fulfilling the company’s goal of creating the best possible workplace environment for its employees. The buildings draw from a shared materials palette of cypress, glass, and steel to integrate with the natural surroundings while creating a modern aesthetic. The first campus building is anchored by a central lounge overlooking the central courtyard and deck; slender two-story office wings create a sense of transparency and offer fabulous views from any point within the building. A second building with a canted form takes advantage of optimal daylighting and passive solar design and features an employee restaurant and lake views. An adjacent building includes a central four-story atrium with monumental stairways for vertical connectivity. The nearby FitPark garage houses an employee gym and provides 600 additional parking spaces. A fourth office building is in the planning stage.
The key drivers of sustainability and connectivity informed the design. Sustainable strategies include tree preservation for shading and enjoyment, high performance mechanical systems and glazing, daylighting, and a retention pond for stormwater management that doubles as a popular site amenity. Sheltered walkways, boardwalks, and running trails connect site elements and workspaces, while a variety of outdoor areas serve as flexible work and gathering areas.
YEAR COMPLETED
2024
SIZE
924,500 SF Total
36,500 SF (Building I),
55,000 SF (Building II)
200,505 SF (FitPark and Parking Garage),
64,000 SF (Building III)
66,400 SF (Building IIII)
WORKPLACE OF THE FUTURE
CURRENT WORKFORCE PREFERENCES & HOW
THEY CAN SHAPE THE FUTURE
It’s no surprise that a number of office spaces across the country sit nearly empty, battling the rising popularity of remote working options. According to a 2022 Gallup survey, 32% of employees prefer exclusively remote work, 59% prefer a hybrid model, and 9% prefer fully on-site work. The truth is, the workplace will likely never again look like what it did 15, 10, or even five years ago. The increased options for how and where to work have led to a split workforce and a management dilemma.
Companies have responded to this period of rapid change in different ways. Some have required all employees to return to full-time in-person work, some have re-thought the need for physical office spaces and switched to permanent remote operations, but most have landed somewhere in the middle: hybrid operations.
For companies operating in a hybrid model – one that allows employees to enjoy both the benefits of a physical collaborative workplace and the flexibility of remote work –how do we design for hybrid operations? How do we adapt existing workplace floor plates for authentic collaboration and engagement?
Many companies are looking to take hybrid working even further. For companies who hope to encourage more in-person work without mandating it, how do we design a workplace that makes people WANT to come into the office?
COLLABORATION IS KEY
How do we design hybrid office spaces that work for everyone? People might have differing opinions on where and how they work most productively, but one thing is clear from asking people what they enjoy about the office: people love faceto-face interactions with their colleagues. Adapting existing office spaces for authentic collaboration – including plenty of opportunities for spontaneous collaboration – is a primary goal.
Designing for collaboration begins with diversifying and mixing different seating and working types. The layout should provide a range of workstations catering to various user preferences and work styles, including collaborative, heads-down, traditional cube,
open benching, and soft/social seating areas to accommodate various tasks throughout the day. Myriad conference and touchpoint meeting stations support these work areas, as well as an upgraded break room and social offerings.
The ideal plan also provides space for additional flexible collaboration zones and ensures readily accessible technology to allow seamless mobility and hybrid interactions throughout the office. The conference spaces should be tailored to different needs for internal and external meetings. When guests are in the office, a more traditional “front of house” conference room may feature a full table, centered in the room, intended for fully in-person meetings or presentations. For employees, a more casual “back of house” conference room may include a table adjacent to the wall with a screen above it, allowing hybrid employees to feel like they have a “seat” at the table. Hybrid meetings and training sessions allow remote or in-person attendance, making it easier for people to join; these sessions may require a little creativity, but incorporating varied seating opportunities helps to maximize comfort and cater to different learning styles.
AMENITIES CREATE AN EXPERIENCE
Even in the most inviting and collaborative work environments, many team members may still prefer working primarily from home. How can employers who want to encourage more inperson interaction entice these employees to spend more of their time in the office? Once flexible, adaptable workspaces are in place, a menu of desirable amenities can be tailored to the available space and budget. These amenities can help turn a trip to the office into an enjoyable experience, and one that people look forward to repeating.
It’s important to remember that adding amenities isn’t just about “adding stuff.” Any amenity worth the investment helps to support authentic relationship building, promotes activity, spurs friendly competition, or sparks innovation. For example, providing a classic arcade game is good for a few minutes of fun, but linking that arcade game to a firmwide leaderboard ups the ante and gives people a reason to connect and engage. Amenities should not only provide fun places to socialize, but also foster events that develop a sense of community and encourage people to come to the office again and again. For all its advantages, working from home won’t meet this need for “celebratory” moments with colleagues through shared moments of play, rest, joy, good food, and social time.
Beyond providing social benefits, amenities can also create “real-world” work environments that allow employees to be as productive in the office as they are in their favorite remote work locations. These “inclusion zones” within the office can mimic their favorite café, bar, library, apartment complex lounge, or even the couch in their own home. This approach continues the emphasis on collaboration and individualization found throughout the workplace and offers maximum variety in work zones. It’s also another way of thinking about what “hybrid” means, as every employee can be working differently but still close enough to office activity to reap the benefits of face-toface interactions.
TEN30
Vantage SouthEnd
Ally Financial
Director
LEE WILLIAMS Vice Chairman
Working with LS3P has reclaimed my belief in collective success in large development projects. Not only are their team members top notch architects and designers, they understand the importance of vision, direction, and collaboration. They have the ability to seamlessly envelop themselves in the culture of the vision for the project and/or help develop the vision.”
Tobias Rafael President, Rafco Properties, Inc.
CORPORATE CLIENTS
Select Relevant Experience
NEW HANOVER COUNTY ABC HEADQUARTERS
Wilmington, NC
ALBEMARLE CORPORATION HEADQUARTERS EXPANSION
Charlotte, NC
AVIDXCHANGE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
Charlotte, NC
AXA EQUITABLE NATIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER
Charlotte, NC
BASF SOUTHEAST REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS
Charlotte, NC
BELLSOUTH HEADQUARTERS
Charleston, SC
BLICKLE US HEADQUARTERS
Newnan, GA
BOOMTOWN HEADQUARTERS
Charleston, SC
CATO CORPORATION HEADQUARTERS RENOVATION
Charlotte, NC
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
Charlotte, NC
CHAQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
Charlotte, NC
COMPUCOM NORTH AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS
Indian Land, SC
CONFIDENTIAL CORPORATION HEADQUARTERS
Mooresville, NC
CORVID TECHNOLOGIES HEADQUARTERS
Mooresville, NC
ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS HEADQUARTERS
Charlotte, NC
EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION HEADQUARTERS
Charlotte, NC
ESPN REGIONAL TELEVISION HEADQUARTERS
Charlotte, NC
IKA WORKS NORTH AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS
Wilmington, NC
JELD-WEN HEADQUARTERS
Charlotte, NC
JTEKT NORTH AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS
Greenville, SC
LIVE OAK BANK CORPORATE CAMPUS
Wilmington, NC
MEGACORP LOGISTICS HEADQUARTERS
Wilmington, NC
SAS INSTITUTE CORPORATE CAMPUS
Cary, NC
SCHAFFLER HEADQUARTERS
Fort Mill, SC
SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION HEADQUARTERS
Columbia, SC
TEN30 CORPORATE CAMPUS
Charlotte, NC