01.23.17 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS An Ad Agency Moves Outside Boulder’s City Center Urban landscapes are becoming more dense and amenity-rich, and real estate costs are continuing to rise; the combination of these factors is creating a confusing contrast in priorities for companies operating in urban areas. IMM, a digital advertising agency facing growth – a good problem to have – chose to leave its offices on bustling Pearl Street in downtown Boulder, CO, and move into a new space on the edge of town in East Boulder. It hired OZ Architecture to design the new space, originally an old shipping and receiving warehouse. FULL STORY ON PAGE 3… Womens’ March on Architecture: A Chat with the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation’s new Director, Cynthia Phifer Kracauer In light of this past weekend’s Womens’ March across the coun- try and the world, we decided to check in with an A&D group advocating for women’s rights in our own industry; the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation (BWAF) came to mind. While women make up 42% of architecture school grads, they repre- sent only 26% of licensed practitioners, and only 16% reach the partner level. We spoke to the BWAF’s new executive director, Cynthia Phifer Kracauer, about the foundation’s short and long term goals for the future. FULL STORY ON PAGE 9… A Lesson in Sales: Less Can Lead to More Everyone is a sales person – whether you work at a dealership or interior design firm. The great designer Angelo Donghia said, “You could have all the talent or the best product in the world. CITED: If you do not know how to sell, success will never come.” But “NO MAN DESERVES TO BE selling looks a lot different these days, and pounding the pave- PRAISED FOR HIS GOOD- ment isn’t necessarily the best way to grow a dealership or firm’s NESS UNLESS HE HAS business. New officeinsight contributor drops a STRENGTH OF CHARACTER Deborah Flate TO BE WICKED. ALL OTHER few knowledge bombs about how focusing on fewer clients can GOODNESS IS GENERALLY lead to stronger numbers. NOTHING BUT INDOLENCE OR IMPOTENCE OF WILL.” FULL STORY ON PAGE 13… — FRANCOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD 01.23.17 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 2 OF 28 SHANTELL MARTIN COLLECTION Designed in collaboration with Shantell Martin memosamples.com 01.23.17 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 3 OF 28 a&d The Analog Room at digital ad agency IMM, designed by OZ Architecture. Photography: courtesy of OZ Architecture An Ad Agency Moves Outside Boulder’s City Center by Mallory Jindra Moving a company out of its city center and into a slightly This project shows a remarkably efficient use of space – a less urban neighborhood is a big, but sometimes unavoid- quality coming from both OZ Architecture and IMM. The new able, decision c-suite leaders are faced with. Urban land- offices feel inexplicably open, yet there is an abundance of ev- scapes are becoming more dense and amenity-rich, and erything from both enclosed and open meeting spaces to pri- real estate costs are continuing to rise; the combination of vate offices and plenty of third spaces. Collaborative meeting these factors is creating a confusing contrast in priorities for nooks and social spaces are cleverly built into wide hallways companies operating in urban areas. and other sometimes neglected pieces of the floor plate. IMM, a digital advertising agency facing growth – a good “They [IMM] were really smart about planning for growth, problem to have – chose to leave its offices on bustling and really wanted to pursue efficient space in terms of Pearl Street in downtown Boulder, CO, and move into a design opportunities,” said Ms. Johnson. new space on the edge of town in East Boulder. It hired IMM requested for its new space, which houses 160 em- OZ Architecture, a local Boulder firm to design the new ployees, an unusually large number of conference rooms. 30,000 square foot space, originally an old shipping and “Their culture is very meeting heavy, very collaborative- receiving warehouse. heavy,” said Ms. Johnson. “Most of their teams are con- “The new location doesn’t have the same amenities within stantly in need of war room space and spaces where they walking distance, so IMM was really focused on creating an can video-conference with clients frequently. These meeting amenity-rich space for its employees from scratch,” says spaces were a huge program component that we needed to Amanda Johnson, associate principal at OZ Architecture. sprinkle throughout the floor plan.” 01.23.17 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 4 OF 28 a&d Semi-enclosed third space collaboration area Hall with third space lounge pieces Third space with high top bar tables 01.23.17 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 5 OF 28 a&d The office boasts 15-20 completely enclosed meeting spaces, flexible for changing needs, and located on the building perimeter. Private offices, in contrast, are located on the interior, allowing more traffic-heavy spaces more natural light. “There are no offices on exterior window walls, which was a great way for the higher-ups to give back to their employees.” IMM also wanted something it called a “closing room” – a special space where they could take a client to escape from a traditional meeting room and really get to know each other. To fulfill this need, OZ Architecture custom designed a standalone sculptural millwork piece called the Analog Room, placed immediately beyond the entrance and reception. Inside the Analog Room, which earns its name by having no phones, TVs, or overhead lighting (this is as close to analog as we can get these days), provides a calm place to sit, have one-on-one meetings, or chill out to a few records on an old school record player. “At first, the Analog Room really was just for clients. But over time, it slowly transformed into an ‘escape’ space for employees, too.” Analog Room exterior Analog Room interior 01.23.17 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 6 OF 28 a&d Reception OZ Architecture kept the entrance area surrounding the reception and the Analog Room very open. “We wanted the entrance to be a unique space with the stamp of their brand. And I think in those ‘first impressions’ spaces, it’s very important to have breathing room and volume.” IMM’s CEO was especially in tune to the advantages of biophilic design. Indoor landscaping spreads evenly throughout the office interior, and an abundance of natu- ral light streams in through large windows, skylights and garage doors. The indoor landscaping and warmer finishing qualities complement an aesthetic that plays to the build- ing’s first life as a working warehouse, complete with 18 foot clear in the ceilings. “It was an old shipping and receiving warehouse with no windows in it, so all of the windows and skylights had to be new,” said Ms. Johnson. “We spent a good portion of our budget on making this warehouse into a true office, includ- ing all of the mechanical and plumbing, while still reflecting its history.” The Analog Room gives way to open office workspace 01.23.17 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 7 OF 28 a&d Much of the flooring is natural exposed concrete, but OZ Architecture installed carpet with organic movement quali- ties under workstations and in meeting rooms. In addition to an abundance of social and collaborative spaces away from the workstation, IMM employees can enjoy an outdoor patio, a dining break room and full kitchen complete with stove and hood, and a deck that OZ Architec- ture built into the warehouse’s old loading dock – complete with coveted views of the Flatiron Mountains. “Since the location isn’t within walking distance to lunch options as the previous office was, they now have a chef come in a few days a week to cook lunch for everyone.” The building’s exterior also features a mural championed by IMM’s CEO, lending a playful, imaginative quality to the face of the warehouse, and frankly, the surrounding neigh- borhood as well. IMM’s new space is a true collaboration of voices be- tween design firm and client, each bringing to the table its strengths and big ideas to form an office that works. n Kitchen Flatiron Mountain views from exterior Exterior mural 01.23.17 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 8 OF 28 ADVERTISEMENT Wallcovering Pattern: Styx 10 colors • Vinyl Type II • Recycled Backing 800-223-5466 • arc-com.com/styx 01.23.17 GIVING VOICE TO THOSE WHO CREATE WORKPLACE DESIGN & FURNISHINGS PAGE 9 OF 28 a&d BWAF’s Women in Architecture Forum. Photography: courtesy of BWAF Womens’ March on Architecture: A Chat with the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation’s new Director, Cynthia Phifer Kracauer by Mallory Jindra Last October, the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation Ms. Kracauer is a good chunk of the way through her first (BWAF) introduced Cynthia Phifer Kracauer as its new ex- year as executive director of the BWAF. We spoke with her ecutive director, along with plans for expanding and advanc- last week about where she sees the foundation going in the ing its global profile. future, both in the short term and long term. For those unaware, the BWAF is an organization seeking Ms. Kracauer seems a perfect match for the Beverly to change the culture of the building industry to support Willis Architecture Foundation.