Susana Covarrubias
Susana Covarrubias
DESIGNER PORTFOLIO SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
Table of Contents
Bio
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Getty Images
8
Jones Day
14
WPP Cole & Weber United
20
Safeco
26
Edelman
32
T-Mobile Creation Center
38
T-Mobile EIT
44
Gensler Seattle
50
Gensler Seattle Expansion
58
HP Conway
64
HP Boise
72
Getty Images ID
78
Park Place Repositioning
86
Cooley LLP
92
Facebook Seattle
98
The Brando
110
Microsoft B16/B17
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DESIGNER PORTFOLIO SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
Susana Covarrubias
Susana Covarrubias is a Studio Director and Design Director at Gensler, and serves as the Regional Design Leader for the Gensler offices in Seattle, San Francisco, San Jose and San Ramon. Over her 20 years of experience, she has brought creative design solutions to a diverse clientele spanning workplace, hospitality, retail, and building repositioning. This diverse background, together with her international experience, allows her to blend knowledge from multiple project types and bring new perspectives to her projects. Her expertise in both interior design and architecture has positioned her as a design leader, bringing quality and innovation to every project. Her early career began in Chile, her home country, where she received highest honors at Universidad de Chile Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo and earned her degree in architecture, equivalent to a master’s program. Soon after her graduation she founded her own firm called Covarrubias | Hamilton, focusing on high-end residential work. Her work eventually led her to the United States, where she worked for a number of well-known firms, prior to joining Gensler in 2000. Since joining Gensler, Susana has risen to the top as a leader in innovative workplace design, often leading the industry in the latest design trends. Her active involvement in industry organizations, such as the International Interior Design Association, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, Commercial Real Estate Women, and The Network of Hospitality Industry, has provided her with a broad perspective on what clients are looking for, how other industries are influencing the work place, and the application of different design principles.
Susana is also a leader within Gensler. She has shown her leadership skills in her ability to manage multiple design teams and serve as a primary client contact, and is always at the forefront, pushing the design envelope as a way to advance our own design process and thinking. These skills have led to her appointment as an office Design Director, a position she has held since 2007, the NW Regional Design Director, and most recently a Seattle Studio Director. In 2008, she was selected to participate in Gensler University focused on Design Leadership and for two years researched the topic of Talent. Other initiatives that she has taken a key role in include the Design+Delivery Synergy Regional Design Group, “What the Tech” technology industry research, Co-Working Research, and the Seattle Office Internship Program. Her leadership and industry involvement has only helped fuel her drive for design excellence. This is evident in the number of awards and media attention she has received for her work over the years – 15 design awards and over 20 articles authored by her or published about her projects. Susana has also served as a guest lecturer and adjunct faculty member at both local and international universities and colleges, and is regular participant in local student mentoring programs.
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IIDA, LEED AP
Getty Images 177,000 sf
Seattle, WA 2001
Getty Images, the largest stock image company in the US having just completed a series of mergers and acquisitions wanted to present a unified front to the industry. The new design positioned Getty as a mature company, differentiating them from the proliferate dot-com companies of the time. The resulting space was hip and creative, yet mature and refined. The lobby space and public areas took inspiration from the creative aspects of photo studios, reflecting what Getty is truly all about.
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GETTY IMAGES SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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GETTY IMAGES SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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Jones Day 165,000 sf
Los Angeles, CA 2006
The design goal for this new space was to create a highly functional environment with a brand new image to help reposition the firm in the Los Angeles area. The client moved to six contiguous floors at City National Plaza, which includes a two-floor conference center with 12-foot high ceilings, an interconnecting stair, state-of-theart audiovisual, a client lounge, and an employee cafe on the window line. The client commissioned a large scale art installation that was seamlessly integrated with the architecture of the space.
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JONES DAY SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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JONES DAY SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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WPP Cole & Weber United 50,000 sf
Seattle, WA 2006
The concept of the design is inspired by the idea of “tension�, specifically an energy sparked by the juxtaposition of dissimilar elements to build an environment of new possibilities and sensory experience. Raw elements placed against refined, transparent elements against opaque, exposed concrete against delicate sheer drapery, raw cedar against glass, and even frameless wood doors that read as opaque planes against transparent planes of glass. All together, they evoke a feel of the Northwest that Cole & Weber wanted in their new space, but in a subtle, non-literal away.
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WPP COLE & WEBER UNITED SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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WPP COLE & WEBER UNITED SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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Safeco 480,000 sf
Seattle, WA 2007
Bringing together disparate office locations in one main headquarters allowed Safeco the opportunity transform its workplace culture. This was achieved by eliminating private offices and high workstation partitions, and incorporating collaborative meeting spaces throughout. The design expression responds to Safeco’s Northwest presence through a palette of natural materials and also the celebration of Safeco’s extensive art collection.
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SAFECO SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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SAFECO SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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Edelman 20,000 sf
Seattle, WA 2007
As a public relations agency, brand expression was key in the design of this project. With limited resources at hand, the designed focused on one bold architectural move that could give the space a distinct character. This became an elongated, angled wall that organizes the space and serves as the connector between public and the work areas.
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EDELMAN SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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EDELMAN SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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T-Mobile Creation Center 20,000 sf
Seattle, WA 2007
This new, LEED Gold certified space is about ideas and connection, translated into a design that is fluid, where functions overlap without overtly defining spaces, and where innovation and new ways of working are brought together. The main components of the design are: a space to story-tell; a space to engage; a space to collaborate; and a space to dream. Visual connections are created between all these spaces to enable the flow of ideas.
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T-MOBILE CREATION CENTER SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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T-MOBILE CREATION CENTER SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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T-Mobile EIT 175,000 sf
Bothell, WA 2008
This project was a consolidation of several engineer groups at T-Mobile into one space. The goal for the project was to enable community and culture through the design of the space. Collaborative spaces were centrally located to promote casual encounters and interaction across the groups. A palette of natural materials against the raw exposed structure resonated with this young creative group of engineers.
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T-MOBILE EIT SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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T-MOBILE EIT SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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Gensler Seattle 9,300 sf
Seattle, WA 2008
Serving a naturally collaborative group, the design combines functions without overtly defining each space. Teaming areas double as workstations, project rooms turn into heads-down spaces, while conference rooms become lounges, and the kitchen and library afford a new set of possibilities. This fluidity in function stands in sharp contrast to the bold architectural language presented by details and materials. An exercise in contrasts itself, the architectural vocabulary juxtaposes industrial steel and concrete with refined veneers, fanciful wallpaper and gossamer draperies. This project was certified LEED Gold.
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GENSLER SEATTLE SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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GENSLER SEATTLE SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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GENSLER SEATTLE SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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Gensler Seattle Expansion 4,500 sf
Seattle, WA 2014
The expansion and renovation of our own office gave us the opportunity to experiment with workplace for a creative group like ours. The design is centered around three ideas: a move away from the formal setting of a typical Gensler office; the placement of our scrappy work and process upfront; and a response to varying work styles. Located right off the main reception space, the studio lab became the heart of the space. This is the first space clients encounter when they visit. To respond to work style diversity, we created three distinct zones: the lab, the blur, and share. With mobility enabled by technology, people have options for where to work, wherever it best fits.
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GENSLER SEATTLE EXPANSION SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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GENSLER SEATTLE EXPANSION SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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HP Conway 146,000 sf
Conway, AK 2010
This new call center endeavored to become a place of knowledge and community. The design exceeded the goals of creating an energetic, engaging, and productive workplace environment. Collaborative spaces, or “Neighborhood Garages,� are evocative of the roots of HP and are strategically linked together to create dynamic, exciting clusters of activity. The HP call center employees are engaged, have developed a strong sense of community, and are connected to the HP brand through the ways they experience the space.
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HP CONWAY SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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HP CONWAY SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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HP CONWAY SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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HP Boise 19,000 sf
Boise, ID 2011
As part of a multi-phase project on the HP Boise Campus, this commission included the renovation of the entry, lobby space and a CafÊ with servery. The goal for the design was to reflect the company’s forward thinking technology through a very contemporary and clean design expression. The cafe steered away from the stereotypical corporate cafeteria and instead conveys a feeling of health and wellness through a hospitality inspired design.
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HP BOISE SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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HP BOISE SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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Getty Images ID 59,000 sf
Seattle, WA 2012
Looking to be on par with Seattle’s growing tech start-ups, Getty wanted their new space to embody the principles behind creativity, design, and adaptability. The resulting design is a balance between the refinement of Getty’s product and the rawness of material and space so often exhibited by tech start-ups. The space became a canvas for Getty’s own imagery, and became both an artistic inspiration for employees and an informational display for visitors.
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GETTY IMAGES ID SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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GETTY IMAGES ID SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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GETTY IMAGES ID SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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Park Place Repositioning 30,000 sf
Seattle, WA 2013
The repositioning work at Park Place Tower is the pinnacle of a visionary, sustainability-focused renovation of the entire structure which granted the building LEED-EB Platinum certification. The design celebrates the building as a showcase of sustainability through a timeless solution that gives due heed to the existing building and its structural principles.
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PARK PLACE REPOSITIONING SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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PARK PLACE REPOSITIONING SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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Cooley LLP 22,800 sf
Seattle, WA 2013
Aligning with the latest law firm trends, the design incorporates a self-contained reception and conference area. Large pivoting glass doors open up to accommodate large events in this flexible and spacious public area. The design aesthetics in this area express Cooley’s brand and Northwest presence through natural materials such as wood and stone.
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COOLEY LLP SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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COOLEY LLP SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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Facebook 60,000 sf
Seattle, WA 2014
Facebook is a creative company, where the spirit of making things permeates the culture. To this end, their new space encourages creating and building to connect engineers to the analog environment and to promote the human connection. Unlike a fixed structure, space is treated as an interface platform that engineers can modify and manipulate. As building blocks, components of the architecture can morph and become what users want their environment to be. Interior walls are used as blank canvases where employees can project their own identity. The use of raw materials and industrial space is a byproduct of moving fast because employees believe they aren’t ever finished with the work at hand.
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FACEBOOK SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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FACEBOOK SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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FACEBOOK SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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FACEBOOK SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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FACEBOOK SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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The Brando 5,000 sf
Tetiaroa, Tahiti Ongoing
This LEED Platinum villa, part of a luxury eco-resort in Tetiaroa, aspires to blend design, culture and climate into a new regional architecture. Rooted in the historical forms and textures of Polynesian longhouses, the building creates an elegant refuge from the unyielding sun, and blends inside comfort with outside beauty. Local resources used throughout the interior spaces allow guests to feel tied to this unique place, while maintaining a distinctive, luxurious experience -redefined as “simple luxury�, a more restrained and authentic experience befitting its natural surroundings.
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THE BRANDO SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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THE BRANDO SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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THE BRANDO SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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Microsoft B16/B17 175,000 sf
Seattle, WA Ongoing
Founded on Microsoft’s desire to integrate all aspects of our lives through connected services and devices, the design of this project is about creating connections. The Cloud and Enterprise Group who will occupy this building is at the epicenter of this promise as the glue that connects all other parts of Microsoft proposition. Through architectural building elements, including an immersive multimedia experience and a new bridge that crosses through the atrium, the design is able to connect the space in different levels. Kinect technology is used to connect the virtual to physical worlds conceiving space as an interactive interface.
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MICROSOFT B16/B17 SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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MICROSOFT B16/B17 SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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MICROSOFT B16/B17 SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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MICROSOFT B16/B17 SUSANA COVARRUBIAS
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