STORY OF CHANGE
FORGE BY PILLAR TECHNOLOGY ANN ARBOR | COLUMBUS | DES MOINES | PALO ALTO
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We had to do really in depth and intricate studies to figure out how individuals worked. Every person has a voice at The Forge. Fully grasping what they needed out of their space was a challenge that kept and keeps evolving as we do. - NATE WENDLING
FORGING THE FUTURE. Pillar Technology is a technology consulting company in the market of disrupting markets. That’s right, they will guide a company through a sea of saturated markets with the goal of creating an opportunity to stand out amongst the masses. From virtual reality, to digital agriculture, to autonomous vehicle programming, Pillar Technology seizes the moments between the everyday process to pursue the disruptions that allows a company to get in front. Where do these disruptions develop? The environment is as important as the ideas. The Forge by Pillar Technology was developed as a model for their success. A no-constraints think tank where business strategists, creatives, software artisans, and clients come together to collaborate to solve problems. It’s both a mental and physical climate that translates from location to location.
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Existing Future
ESTABLISHED
2013
2015
2016
2017
Columbus, Ohio
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Des Moines, Iowa
Palo Alto, California
75%
Employee Growth
SPAN OF THEIR REACH. Across the Midwest, the Forge is taking on new challenges in up-and-coming tech cities that are sure to have a post-Silicon Valley boom. This strategy of anticipation attracts top-tier techies to Pillar that creates a network like no other. With four completed facilities, three on the boards, and more in the near future, the Forge is growing at a rapid and successful pace. A continuous thread in the development of local and regional market partners stays true to each of these locations. Whether it’s software development in Columbus or agriculture technology in Des Moines, each Forge plays its part in the surrounding community as a commitment to the region. Attracting top talent from around the US to the Midwest isn’t easy, but Pillar has found a way through their no-constraints think tank methods and facilities. Each location acts as a local base/ hub for a tie within the community, but it operates on a regional basis. A software engineer working in the Des Moines location could be working on a project in Columbus and vice-versa. Everything within the Forge is virtual, fluid, and flexible, which is important to attracting top talent. 3 | STORY OF CHANGE: FORGE BY PILLAR TECHNOLOGY
BUILDING A PARTNERSHIP. The Forge is more than just a design. Focusing on their brand and modeling spaces around their speed to market mentality, they needed regional destinations that could keep up with their rapid space needs. A place where corporate companies can collaborate with start-up-minded creatives and connect without a cultural gap. This environment of no constraints is embedded into their business model and spaces. WSA knew that in order to break down barriers and create truly restraint-less spaces, we would need to be involved every step of the way. The partnership between Pillar Technology and WSA Studio allows work to be done parametrically from their technology front to our design front. The Forge spaces are not only a sales tool for Pillar, but they are also marketing the models and studies behind the design so current and potential clients understand their way of working and what they have to offer. This creates a sense of cohesive output through the team that supports Pillar in their catalog of spaces and output. The relationship extends beyond the design and into the big picture.
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BUILDING A BRAND. From the beginning in Ann Arbor, each Forge was selected based on regions and markets. But, regardless of the region or market, there was a brand book that was followed to keep each Forge consistent and original. This idea requires a strategy to find the right building to fit the needs. Promoting renewal of the urban core is what WSA practices: adaptive reuse ( ). Pillar also sees the potential in historic buildings. Each of the four current facilities is in an adapted space. They have an industrial, raw exposure aesthetic that helps promote their transparency mindset. When experiencing a Forge, there is an apparent absence of flash and glamor. The raw nature of the building mixed with the clarity of each space is in line with how they operate in business: they listen to understand client necessity and game plan to encourage it. The space compliments their working process of creating unique outputs ( ) to solve problems for their clients. The key to connecting the work process and space stretches to the Innovation Pathway ( ) of each Forge. A large orange overhang travels with you though the entire area. Potential and current clients or employees alike enter the space and immediately interact with this architectural detail. It follows the philosophy and mindset of Pillar in creating a no-constraints think tank and also has an acoustical functionality from the other spectrum. Creating details with multiple functions and purposes throughout the Forge pulls together the brand.
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BUILDING A MODEL. The Forge is modeled around transparency ( ). In each space, barriers are broken down to create an archetype of equality, not hierarchy. In creating these environments of no constraints, employees, clients, and spectators can see dreams becoming prototypes to then become reality. This active workplace mixes large pairing stations with huddle spaces to break down restrictions and create a sense of linearity. Everyone has a role through materiality. Most spaces can be customized and altered by the user. This is continuous through work stations and conference rooms so everyone has the ability to make their mark and have their own expression. The materials selected not only create a brand and user-expression, they also have a deeper purpose. Private areas are enclosed by demountable partitions to accommodate evolving spaces ( ). As each Forge expands or changes paths towards something new, the space changes. This flexibility to take down, rearrange, and adjust follows the model of visibility and transparency by materiality.
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THE FORGE - COLUMBUS. The Forge Columbus is the home-base for Pillar Technology. The space is designed to inject creative thinking and solutions into seemingly conservative business situations. The project was the first consulting space by Pillar and our team used “test and fit� designs to establish a foundation for future projects. Large pairing stations and an open, active work environment makeup this space. This digital think tank helps businesses handle the crush of demand for mobile technology in the Columbus region. Est. 2013 | SF: 4,600
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THE FORGE - ANN ARBOR. The Forge Ann Arbor is set up to be a technology incubator in the southeast Michigan metropolitan area. This location benefits greatly from its proximity to the University of Michigan as the space provides various settings for collaborative technology consultation and complex problem solving. As a result of this project, Forge has solidified their relationship with the University of Michigan and private sector clients throughout the Great Lakes Region. The design provides a wide variety of collaborative options for consulting clients to work on technology innovation and the space has been adaptable. Est. 2015 | SF: 8,600 WSA STUDIO | 8
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THE FORGE - DES MOINES. The Forge Des Moines is the fourth in a series of research and development centers for Pillar Technology. The space is centrally located to promote collaboration during technology consulting. WSA Studio created a space for Pillar that preserved the historic integrity of the building while maintaining the Forge brand: orange ceilings, a variety of work spaces, and a raw aesthetic. With the awareness of their brand expanding, The Forge has been able to elevate their consulting capacity to a national level with multiple access centers. This space has solidified Pillar’s place as a leading technology consultant in the heartland. Through the design of this space, Pillar has expanded their relationship with John Deere, which is in Moline, Illinois, a few hours to the east. New accounts are also being added to the Forge by Pillar portfolio. The space offers a tremendous amount of flexibility and has been promoted agile workplace response to the demands of consultants. Est. 2016 | SF: 8,000 WSA STUDIO | 10
THE FORGE - PALO ALTO. The Forge in Palo Alto is a listening post that has an indirect relationship with Stanford University. With expertise in design thinking, embedded solutions, and highly-complex software development, Pillar continues to drive efficiency and innovation for nextgeneration digital interfaces, autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and other leadingedge fields in the Silicon Valley region. Est. 2017 | SF: 3,000 11 | STORY OF CHANGE: FORGE BY PILLAR TECHNOLOGY
THE FORGE - 711 N HIGH. The Forge by Pillar Technology will open up a second Columbus Innovation Center atop the Short North’s tallest tower at 711 North High in 2019. The new space with take up 2 floors in the tower for a total of 24,000 SF and will be 100 percent focused on creativity and learning, both by clients and outside groups to brainstorm projects. The eighth floor is designed for Pillar’s consulting and software development business, with teams grouped by function such as autonomous vehicle software. In the corner of the eighth floor will be a more secured space to work with customers on new products. The ninth floor will feature more event spaces, including a full kitchen, while the two floors will be connected by an open, center-piece staircase. Est. 2019 | SF: 24,000
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FORGING THE FUTURE. With a culture of consistency and hyper-productivity, Pillar Technology is utilizing their Forge brand to apply their no-constraints process to their work and lifestyle. The approach is fueling their big-picture mentality and future as they’ve shown themselves to be a leader in innovation, continuously delivering industry-disrupting solutions at remarkable speed. Success has led to large private investments and a master plan of growth. With four current Forge incubator spaces in the US, Pillar is looking to add three more locations in the coming years with more on the horizon. This commitment is a clear vision of bolstering Pillar’s position as the market leader in smart embedded solutions and highly complex software and hardware systems. 13 | STORY OF CHANGE: FORGE BY PILLAR TECHNOLOGY
There is a level of sophistication around technology now that is raising the bar as far as those who can deliver and those who can’t. When you look at the future of the Forge and Pillar Technology, it is ever-changing. Recently, Pillar has diverted a portion of its development efforts to focus on in-house software product development, which has already yielded innovations such as proprietary autonomous vehicle and automotive technology software applications. Value focused, team oriented, continuous deployment, constant improvement, speed to value, and execution with discipline and excellence. These are the values that hold true and will continue to bolster the future of the Forge.
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