https://www.architecturalrecord.com/rss/148-good-design-is-good-business en-us RECORD's 22nd annual program demonstrates how architecture can benefit a business’s bottom line.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14109 Mon, 03 Jun 2019 09:01:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14109-good-design-is-good-business-2019 http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14108 Mon, 03 Jun 2019 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14108-new-lab-at-the-brooklyn-navy-yard-by-marvel-architects Historically accurate insulated windows and cladding replace the existing envelope to bring the building up to date. Photo © David Sundberg / ESTO 1906-GDGB-New-Lab-at-the-Brooklyn-Navy-Yard-New-York-City-Marvel-Architects-02.jpg Historically accurate insulated windows and cladding replace the existing envelope to bring the building up to date. Photo courtesy Brooklyn Navy Yard Archives Inside, single-story buildouts—housing studios, meeting rooms, and a makerspace—flank a central corridor and form a mezzanine. Photo © David Sundberg / ESTO Photo © David Sundberg / ESTO Photo © David Sundberg / ESTO Photo © David Sundberg / ESTO Photo courtesy Brooklyn Navy Yard Archive Photo © David Sundberg / ESTO Section Image courtesy Macro Sea Photo courtesy Macro Sea Image courtesy Marvel Architects Image courtesy Marvel Architects Image courtesy Marvel Architects Image courtesy Marvel Architects An architect/developer devises an alternative to the traditional residential subdivision on a site two hours north of New York City.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14107 Mon, 03 Jun 2019 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14107-hudson-woods-by-lang-architecture The typical Hudson Woods residence features a taut gable shape that references the region’s historic agricultural buildings; all residences are clad in cedar. Photo © Ty Cole Oak-lined interiors face walls of windows that provide a connection to the outdoors. Photo © Deborah Degraffenreid The kitchen opens to the living area, with colors and materials that reflect the nature motif. Photo © Deborah Degraffenreid Photo © Propellerheads Aerial Photography Photo © Deborah DeGraffenreid Photo © Deborah DeGraffenreid Photo © Deborah DeGraffenreid Photo © Deborah DeGraffenreid Photo © Deborah DeGraffenreid Photo © Deborah DeGraffenreid Neighborhood Plan Image courtesy LANG Architecture Site Plan Image courtesy LANG Architecture Typical section Image courtesy LANG Architecture The design of a developer's New York office pays homage to the community’s history while projecting the refinement of the Houston-based company’s brand.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14106 Mon, 03 Jun 2019 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14106-hines-office-by-lsm 1906-GDGB-Hines-New-York-City-LSM-01.jpg Existing concrete structure reflects the neighborhood’s industrial roots, while contemporary glass partitions maximize daylight and sightlines. Photo © Peter Aaron / OTTO 1906-GDGB-Hines-New-York-City-LSM-02.jpg The communal farm table is a gathering spot situated at the center of the floor. A drop ceiling controls noise and conceals lighting and mechanical components. Photo © Peter Aaron / OTTO Photo © Peter Aaron / OTTO Photo © Peter Aaron / OTTO Photo © Peter Aaron / OTTO Photo © Peter Aaron / OTTO Photo © Peter Aaron / OTTO Photo © Peter Aaron / OTTO Photo © Peter Aaron / OTTO Image courtesy LSM Blue Bottle's new cafés around the country put the performance of coffee making on display in clutter-free spaces.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14105 Mon, 03 Jun 2019 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14105-blue-bottle-coffee-by-bohlin-cywinski-jackson The height of the World Trade Center space in New York is modulated with millwork ribs. Photo © Jeffrey Totaro A 600-square-foot retail nook on California Street in San Francisco’s Financial District plays with scale and perspective. Photo © Adam Rouse In Old Oakland, BCJ transformed the ground floor of a former 19th-century hotel into a café with custom furnishings and modular elements designed to adapt over time. Photo © Adam Rouse A lattice of plywood box lanterns in the South Park, San Francisco, café displays merchandise and emits a soft glow in the historic warehouse. Photo © Matthew Millman In Boston’s Exchange, a 350-square-foot micro-kiosk sits within a vast atrium. A metal frame wrapped with perforated panels brings natural light to every surface. Photo © Daniel Lee In Williamsburg, Brooklyn, curving walls choreograph the customer experience. Photo © Jeffrey Totaro To enhance employee productivity and increase sales for a contract-furniture dealer, the architects put the products AOS represents to work, rather than on display.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14104 Mon, 03 Jun 2019 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14104-aos-office-renovation-by-eskewdumezripple-and-vergesrome-architects Rows of acoustic baffles define borders between workstations and certain gathering areas such as the library. Photo © Neil Alexander Conference rooms of varying sizes allow flexibility, whether for a formal meeting or an impromptu collaboration. Photo © Neil Alexander Photo © Neil Alexander Photo © Neil Alexander Photo © Neil Alexander Photo © Neil Alexander Photo © Neil Alexander Photo © Neil Alexander Photo © Neil Alexander Image courtesy EskewDumezRIpple and VergesRome Architects An underutilized subterranean site in New York City has been transformed into a flexible underground pedestrian street for food and shopping.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14103 Mon, 03 Jun 2019 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14103-turnstyle-by-architecture-outfit Backlit storefront signage keeps the design cohesive. Small kiosks at the center are rented by niche vendors. Photo © Ty Cole Colored tile indicates areas where pedestrians and shoppers can pause, eat, and chat. Overhead, a spine of mirror and perforated metal screens—laser-cut to reference historic subwaytile motifs—conceal m/e/p components. Photo © Ty Cole Photo © Ty Cole Photo © Ty Cole Photo © Ty Cole Photo © Ty Cole Photo © Ty Cole Photo © Ty Cole Axonometric diagram Image courtesy Architecture Outfit Cross Section Image courtesy Architecture Outfit Image courtesy Architecture Outfit A new building at the Metropolitan Community College in Omaha has become a versatile research, development, and training resource for students and industry.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14102 Mon, 03 Jun 2019 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14102-center-for-advanced-emerging-technology-by-bnim 1906-GDGB-Center-for-Advanced-Emerging-Technology-Omaha-BNIM-01.jpg A glazed garage door opens to Innovation Central, the building’s main space. Photo Nick Merrick © Hall+Merrick To its north, a double-height main corridor serves as a social commons and connects to the building’s various other facilities. Photo Nick Merrick © Hall+Merrick Photo Nick Merrick © Hall+Merrick Photo Nick Merrick © Hall+Merrick Photo Nick Merrick © Hall+Merrick Photo Nick Merrick © Hall+Merrick Photo Nick Merrick © Hall+Merrick Photo Nick Merrick © Hall+Merrick Photo Nick Merrick © Hall+Merrick Photo Nick Merrick © Hall+Merrick Photo Nick Merrick © Hall+Merrick Photo courtesy BNIM Image courtesy BNIM Lentzl@bnpmedia.com (Linda C. Lentz) A New York–based law firm invigorates its workplace by reflecting its increasingly collaborative culture.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14098 Mon, 03 Jun 2019 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14098-boies-schiller-flexner-at-55-hudson-yards-by-schiller-projects Small meeting rooms and informal seating are available throughout. Photo © David Sundberg/Esto Halls are flanked by associate work areas, plus glazed partner offices and veiled reading and phone hubs. Photo © David Sundberg/Esto Halls are flanked by associate work areas, plus glazed partner offices and veiled reading and phone hubs. Photo © Matt Carbone A lounge near a boardroom overlooks reception. Photo © David Sundberg/Esto A spiral stair links the firm’s three floors. Photo © David Sundberg/Esto Photo © David Sundberg/ESTO Photo © David Sundberg/ESTO Photo © David Sundberg/ESTO Photo © David Sundberg/ESTO Photo © David Sundberg/ESTO Photo © David Sundberg/ESTO Photo © David Sundberg/ESTO Photo © David Sundberg/ESTO Photo © David Sundberg/ESTO Image courtesy of Schiller Projects Image courtesy of Schiller Projects Image courtesy of Schiller Projects Image courtesy of Schiller Projects Read about the winners of this year's Good Design Is Good Business awards program, which recognizes exemplary architectural solutions that were instrumental in the growth and success of a range of businesses.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13433 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 09:05:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13433-good-design-is-good-business-2018 Smart design and real-estate savvy result in an equitable collaboration for a start-up and an established arts institution in New Orleans.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13427 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13427-the-shop-at-the-cac-by-eskew-dumez-ripple The Shop at the Contemporary Arts Center occupies the third and fourth floors of a 113-year-old building in the New Orleans Warehouse District. The new co-working space overlooks the atrium of the building. Photo © Neil Alexander Before becoming home to the Contemporary Arts Center in 1977, the historic building had a variety of uses: law offices, light manufacturing, printing, even a ground-floor Sears & Roebuck. When CAC moved in, its strong cultural presence helped plant the seeds for the area’s revival, which began prior to Katrina and has exploded in recent years. Photo © Neil Alexander A meeting room located on a fourth-floor balcony has a view of the dramatic atrium. Photo © Neil Alexander This office suite houses the Domain Companies, the project’s developer. The Shop offers a variety of rental options, everything from 10-day and monthly passes (which give members access to common areas) to individual offices ranging in size from one- to 10-person. Photo © Neil Alexander A dramatic central stair was built on a concrete plinth that serves as a place for events, informal work, and impromptu gatherings, adjacent to a communal kitchen. Photo © Neil Alexander EDR enlarged the opening around the stair to visually connect the two floors and created a wall of private work booths near its base. Photo © Neil Alexander Image courtesy Eskew+Dumez+Ripple Image courtesy Eskew+Dumez+Ripple Uniqlo's year-old home base in Tokyo borrows from the organizational logic of an urban plan.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13428 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 08:55:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13428-fast-retailing-headquarters-by-allied-works-architecture Employees walking along the office’s main “street” can look into the company reading room, where they can find books and magazines collected from around the world for inspiration. Behind it is a café. Photo © Nacasa and Partners The two-level reading room is a cloistered space but provides views to other parts of the workplace. Photo © Kenji Takahashi The reception area has a more corporate feeling and leads to the Hall of History, where photographs introduce visitors and employees to the company’s story before they reach the work areas. Photo © Kenji Takahashi Each work loft has a glass-enclosed atelier and an open lounge that serves as a buffer zone between departments. Photo © Nacasa and Partners The Answer Lab is a digital-information hub. Photo © Nacasa and Partners The street encourages spontaneous discussions. Photo © Kenji Takahashi The Great Hall can hold company-wide events or divide for smaller meetings. Photo © Nacasa and Partners Image courtesy Allied Works Architecture BNIM's transformation of its own new space in an Edward Larrabee Barnes building in Missouri leads to a more productive studio.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13429 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 08:50:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13429-bnim-offices-at-crown-center-by-bnim The architects made the most of the minimal tenant-improvement allowance by keeping the interior raw. The only big move was the removal of a 24-foot-square section of the concrete slab to join the floors. The balustrades are sheet steel discolored by laser cutting. Photo © Michael Robinson The office entrance is on the upper floor, where a small reception area and coffee shop welcome visitors and employees. Photo © Nick Merrick BNIM’s offices are indicated by the ochre-tinted section of the photo of the 1970s late modern complex. Photo courtesy BNIM The space was originally filled with workstations that blocked views to the grounds outside. Photo courtesy BNIM Now “the Boulevard” bisects the ground floor, where everybody can see out. Photo © Michael Robinson Contemporary furnishings create comfortable meeting areas on the upper and lower levels. Photo © Nick Merrick 26-foot-wide by 6-foot-8-inch-high windows on the lower floor have the visual effect of bringing trees and the garden into the interior. Photo © Nick Merrick “The Boulevard” features long farmhouse tables made from solid-wood-core doors BNIM salvaged from the demolition phase of a project. Photo © Nick Merrick Image courtesy BNIM Image courtesy BNIM Image courtesy BNIM A fast-growing tech company's new headquarters in New York embraces hospitality and savoir-faire.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13431 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 08:45:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13431-squarespace-by-architecture-plus-information Glass walls and guardrails reinforce the company’s emphasis on transparency. Photo © Magda Biernat Two individual staircases, one connecting the top floors and the other the bottom are separated, encouraging employees to walk across the space. Photo © Magda Biernat Squarespace’s blackened-steel and larch-wood entrance stands out on a block lined with brick buildings. Photo © Magda Biernat The lobby welcomes visitors and provides an informal work area. Plantings add a pop of color to a neutral palette. Photo © Magda Biernat An intimate wood-paneled pantry connects the reception area to the elevator lobby. Photo © Magda Biernat A cafeteria and bar serve as flexible environments for collaboration or individual work, as well as accommodate office-wide social gatherings. Photo © Magda Biernat A cafeteria and bar serve as flexible environments for collaboration or individual work, as well as accommodate office-wide social gatherings. Photo © Magda Biernat The lobby welcomes visitors and provides an informal work area. Photo © Magda Biernat 1806-Good-Design-Is-Good-Business-Architecture-Plus-Information-New-York-Squarespace-09.jpg Image courtesy Architecture Plus Information 1806-Good-Design-Is-Good-Business-Architecture-Plus-Information-New-York-Squarespace-10.jpg Image courtesy Architecture Plus Information A design team and client develop a materials-rich office and display in Copenhagen.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13432 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 08:40:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13432-kvadrat-flagship-showroom-by-ronan-and-erwan-bouroullec The anodized-aluminum display surrounds a white-painted brick kitchen, which seats 10 at the oak counter. Photo © Michel Giesbrecht The Bouroullecs designed the presentation table and semitransparent fabric hanging across the aisle. Photo © Michel Giesbrecht A translucent glass wall divides the space without blocking light, offering a peek at the product library. Photo © Michel Giesbrecht In the office area, which seats 16, high fronts on custom desks made of Solid Textile board provide privacy. Photo © Michel Giesbrecht The product library has a harbor-view, which can be enjoyed from a Hay Palissade chair designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. Photo © Michel Giesbrecht Image courtesy Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec A small office in California is a testing ground for Google's future campuses.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13435 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 08:35:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13435-google-at-1212-bordeaux-by-parabola Google’s new building relies on materials that don’t require finishes, including steel and board-formed concrete. Photo © Prakash Patel Olive trees and exterior shades shield the western facade, while the southern exposure benefits from terrace overhangs. Photo © Prakash Patel Five rows of north-facing clerestory windows on the sawtooth roof provide abundant illumination; openings cut into the main floor create light wells and allow the corridors to look up into the volume above. Photo © Prakash Patel Five rows of north-facing clerestory windows on the sawtooth roof provide abundant illumination; openings cut into the main floor create light wells and allow the corridors to look up into the volume above. Photo © Prakash Patel The second-floor lounge is visually and acoustically separated from the main workspace by the service core. Photo © Prakash Patel Ductwork for the building is integrated into the mezzanine so that it blocks sight lines to the work area below. Photo © Prakash Patel Image courtesy Parabola Image courtesy Parabola Image courtesy Parabola The 20th year of record’s investigation into the value of architectural excellence to a business’s bottom line confirms that design does matter.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12483 Sat, 01 Apr 2017 08:08:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12483-good-design-is-good-business-2017 The 94-year-old San Francisco Opera wanted a secondary venue to attract the next generation of operagoers.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12472 Sat, 01 Apr 2017 08:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12472-diane-b-wilsey-center-for-opera-by-mark-cavagnero-associates The architects transformed a floor previously occupied by SFMOMA in the Veterans Building, creating a new space for the San Francisco Opera that includes a small theater for chamber operas and avant-garde performances, a daylit costume shop for the company, and an exhibition gallery. Photo © Tim Griffith The architects transformed a floor previously occupied by SFMOMA in the Veterans Building, creating a new space for the San Francisco Opera that includes a small theater for chamber operas and avant-garde performances, a daylit costume shop for the company, and an exhibition gallery. Photo © Tim Griffith The architects transformed a floor previously occupied by SFMOMA in the Veterans Building, creating a new space for the San Francisco Opera that includes a small theater for chamber operas and avant-garde performances, a daylit costume shop for the company, and an exhibition gallery. Photo © Tim Griffith Photo © Tim Griffith 1704-Good-Design-is-Good-Business-Mark-Cavagnero-Associates-San-Francisco-Diane-B-Wilsey-Center-for-Opera-06.jpg Photo © Tim Griffith Photo © Kyle Jeffers Photo © Kyle Jeffers Image courtesy Mark Cavagnero Associates Image courtesy Mark Cavagnero Associates For a global firm like Perkins+Will, each year offers the chance to rethink spaces as leases expire and real-estate needs change.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12471 Sat, 01 Apr 2017 08:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12471-perkinswill-offices-by-perkinswill 1704-Good-Design-is-Good-Business-Perkins-Will-Chicago-Minneapolis-New-York-Seattle-Perkins-Will-Offices-01.jpg Chicago The design of the new Wrigley Building office was based on staff preferences for an environment that is conducive to being more active, where they could choose where they work. The streamlined space includes a daylit multipurpose area on the top floor, reached by a stair near reception, height-adjustable desks, small conference rooms, and comfortable furnishings. Photo © Michelle Litvin Chicago The design of the new Wrigley Building office was based on staff preferences for an environment that is conducive to being more active, where they could choose where they work. The streamlined space includes a daylit multipurpose area on the top floor, reached by a stair near reception, height-adjustable desks, small conference rooms, and comfortable furnishings. Photo © Steve Hall / Hedrich Blessing Chicago The design of the new Wrigley Building office was based on staff preferences for an environment that is conducive to being more active, where they could choose where they work. The streamlined space includes a daylit multipurpose area on the top floor, reached by a stair near reception, height-adjustable desks, small conference rooms, and comfortable furnishings. Photo © Steve Hall / Hedrich Blessing Chicago The design of the new Wrigley Building office was based on staff preferences for an environment that is conducive to being more active, where they could choose where they work. The streamlined space includes a daylit multipurpose area on the top floor, reached by a stair near reception, height-adjustable desks, small conference rooms, and comfortable furnishings. Photo © Steve Hall / Hedrich Blessing Chicago The design of the new Wrigley Building office was based on staff preferences for an environment that is conducive to being more active, where they could choose where they work. The streamlined space includes a daylit multipurpose area on the top floor, reached by a stair near reception, height-adjustable desks, small conference rooms, and comfortable furnishings. Photo © Steve Hall / Hedrich Blessing Chicago The design of the new Wrigley Building office was based on staff preferences for an environment that is conducive to being more active, where they could choose where they work. The streamlined space includes a daylit multipurpose area on the top floor, reached by a stair near reception, height-adjustable desks, small conference rooms, and comfortable furnishings. Photo © Steve Hall / Hedrich Blessing Chicago The design of the new Wrigley Building office was based on staff preferences for an environment that is conducive to being more active, where they could choose where they work. The streamlined space includes a daylit multipurpose area on the top floor, reached by a stair near reception, height-adjustable desks, small conference rooms, and comfortable furnishings. Photo © Steve Hall / Hedrich Blessing Minneapolis The single-floor Minneapolis office did away with assigned seating, providing 190 options for its 65 employees. The furniture, none of which is fixed, for flexibility, is largely repurposed, made out of materials from the previous location, like the harvest table in the café/meeting/event space, or from rapidly renewable Aspen plywood. Photo © Corey Gaffer Minneapolis The single-floor Minneapolis office did away with assigned seating, providing 190 options for its 65 employees. The furniture, none of which is fixed, for flexibility, is largely repurposed, made out of materials from the previous location, like the harvest table in the café/meeting/event space, or from rapidly renewable Aspen plywood. Photo © Corey Gaffer Minneapolis The single-floor Minneapolis office did away with assigned seating, providing 190 options for its 65 employees. The furniture, none of which is fixed, for flexibility, is largely repurposed, made out of materials from the previous location, like the harvest table in the café/meeting/event space, or from rapidly renewable Aspen plywood. Photo © Corey Gaffer Minneapolis The single-floor Minneapolis office did away with assigned seating, providing 190 options for its 65 employees. The furniture, none of which is fixed, for flexibility, is largely repurposed, made out of materials from the previous location, like the harvest table in the café/meeting/event space, or from rapidly renewable Aspen plywood. Photo © Corey Gaffer Minneapolis The single-floor Minneapolis office did away with assigned seating, providing 190 options for its 65 employees. The furniture, none of which is fixed, for flexibility, is largely repurposed, made out of materials from the previous location, like the harvest table in the café/meeting/event space, or from rapidly renewable Aspen plywood. Photo © Corey Gaffer New York Less formal than its previous iteration, the New York location has fewer private offices and more open and/or flexible team and meeting areas outfitted with comfortable lounge furniture and sit/stand desk options. The palette consists of more natural hues, with outdoor imagery and an emphasis on healthy materials. Photo © Eduard Hueber New York Less formal than its previous iteration, the New York location has fewer private offices and more open and/or flexible team and meeting areas outfitted with comfortable lounge furniture and sit/stand desk options. The palette consists of more natural hues, with outdoor imagery and an emphasis on healthy materials. Photo © Eduard Hueber New York Less formal than its previous iteration, the New York location has fewer private offices and more open and/or flexible team and meeting areas outfitted with comfortable lounge furniture and sit/stand desk options. The palette consists of more natural hues, with outdoor imagery and an emphasis on healthy materials. Photo © Eduard Hueber New York Less formal than its previous iteration, the New York location has fewer private offices and more open and/or flexible team and meeting areas outfitted with comfortable lounge furniture and sit/stand desk options. The palette consists of more natural hues, with outdoor imagery and an emphasis on healthy materials. Photo © Eduard Hueber Seattle A variety of places to meet, have coffee, and chat enhance the open and democratic layout in Seattle. Healthy materials were used throughout a design that incorporates height-adjustable desks, as well as soft seating and collaborative spaces for planned and impromptu meetings and alternate work environments. Photo © YE-H Photography Seattle A variety of places to meet, have coffee, and chat enhance the open and democratic layout in Seattle. Healthy materials were used throughout a design that incorporates height-adjustable desks, as well as soft seating and collaborative spaces for planned and impromptu meetings and alternate work environments. Photo © YE-H Photography Seattle A variety of places to meet, have coffee, and chat enhance the open and democratic layout in Seattle. Healthy materials were used throughout a design that incorporates height-adjustable desks, as well as soft seating and collaborative spaces for planned and impromptu meetings and alternate work environments. Photo © YE-H Photography At the new London headquarters of a security company, architects juggled the demands of a constrained site, a tight schedule, and a complex program.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12470 Sat, 01 Apr 2017 08:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12470-banham-headquarters-by-allies-and-morrison Comfortably situated within its context, Banham’s new headquarters offers excellent views of the nearby river. Photo © Ståle Eriksen An airy reception area and showroom display the company’s products. Photo © Ståle Eriksen An open-plan office on the fourth floor of the Railway Wing provides a pleasant workspace. Photo © Ståle Eriksen The canteen opens to a balcony and has a long table for informal staff interaction. Photo © Ståle Eriksen The brick building has plenty of additional outdoor space and fits in with the neighborhood. Photo © Ståle Eriksen Photo © Ståle Eriksen Photo © Ståle Eriksen Photo © Ståle Eriksen Photo © Ståle Eriksen Photo © Ståle Eriksen Photo © Ståle Eriksen Image courtesy Allies and Morrison Image courtesy Allies and Morrison A commercial real-estate giant with an interest in adaptive reuse relocated its Universal City office to a larger space in the L.A. metro area.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12469 Sat, 01 Apr 2017 08:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12469-cbre-masonic-temple-by-gensler 1704-Good-Design-is-Good-Business-Gensler-Glendale-California-CBRE-Masonic-Temple-01.jpg In a former Masonic temple, Gensler inserted an upper-level mezzanine for realestate company CBRE, highlighting a decorative vaulted ceiling. Photo © Ryan Gobuty / Gensler 1704-Good-Design-is-Good-Business-Gensler-Glendale-California-CBRE-Masonic-Temple-02.jpg The elegant Art Deco building was designed by Arthur Lindley and built in 1928. Photo © Ryan Gobuty / Gensler Two floors of the office are connected by a sculptural steel stair. Photo © Benny Chan / Fotoworks Image courtesy Gensler Image courtesy Gensler Image courtesy Gensler Image courtesy Gensler 1704-Good-Design-is-Good-Business-Gensler-Glendale-California-CBRE-Masonic-Temple-09.jpg Photo © Ryan Gobuty / Gensler 1704-Good-Design-is-Good-Business-Gensler-Glendale-California-CBRE-Masonic-Temple-10.jpg Photo © Ryan Gobuty / Gensler Photo © Benny Chan / Fotoworks Photo © Benny Chan / Fotoworks Photo © Benny Chan / Fotoworks Photo © Benny Chan / Fotoworks Image courtesy Gensler Image courtesy Gensler As as the Portland, Oregon–based strategic creative agency sought a new home for its 150 employees, an opportunity emerged right under its nose.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12468 Sat, 01 Apr 2017 08:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12468-swift-agency-by-beebe-skidmore-architects The former Rose City Awning factory was transformed for strategic creative agency Swift. Photo © Jeremy Bittermann An open lobby expresses the ethos of transparency and welcome that the company fosters. Photo © Jeremy Bittermann A central conversation pit encourages casual interaction among staff. Most of the other amenity spaces, and conference rooms, are arranged around the building perimeter on mezzanine levels. Photo © Jeremy Bittermann Photo © Jeremy Bittermann Photo © Jeremy Bittermann Photo © Jeremy Bittermann Photo © Jeremy Bittermann Photo © Jeremy Bittermann Photo © Jeremy Bittermann Photo © Jeremy Bittermann Photo © Jeremy Bittermann Photo © Jeremy Bittermann Photo © Jeremy Bittermann Photo © Jeremy Bittermann Image coutesy Beebe Skidmore Architects The world's largest financial institution sought to reinvogorate the company by moving its Mexico City operations out of the suburbs.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12467 Sat, 01 Apr 2017 08:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12467-bbva-bancomer-operations-center-by-skidmore-owings-merrill A lively aluminum screen punctuates the structure’s high-performance glass, regulating solar gain. Photo © Rafael Gamo The lobby was imagined as a “street." Photo © Rafael Gamo Sunny stairwells encourage employees to climb between floors. Photo © Rafael Gamo A daylit cafeteria and terrace between the 11th and 12th floors provide places for employees to enjoy lunch on-site. Photo © Rafael Gamo A daylit cafeteria and terrace between the 11th and 12th floors provide places for employees to enjoy lunch on-site. Photo © Rafael Gamo Photo © Rafael Gamo Photo © Rafael Gamo Photo © Rafael Gamo Photo © Rafael Gamo Photo © Rafael Gamo Photo © Rafael Gamo Image courtesy Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Image courtesy Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Image courtesy Skidmore, Owings & Merrill A $52 million project has doubled the Minnesota Orchestra's event revenues and created opportunities for valuable community outreach.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12466 Sat, 01 Apr 2017 08:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12466-orchestra-hall-renewal-by-kpmb KPMB upgraded the auditorium with improved lighting, seats, and technology. Photo © Nic Lehoux The small Target Atrium projects onto a patio and serves as an informal performance space. Photo © Nic Lehoux They transformed the original facade with an expanded, glazed lobby that engages the community. Photo © Nic Lehoux They transformed the original facade (above) with an expanded, glazed lobby that engages the community. Photo © Nic Lehoux Image courtesy KPMB Architects The 30,000-squarefoot lobby expansion has become a flexible urban stage for events, gatherings, and celebrations. It has also made it possible for the Minnesota Orchestra to host the Symphony Ball, its largest fund-raising event, in its own home. Photo © Nic Lehoux Existing lobby prior to the addition. Image courtesy KPMB Existing lobby prior to the addition. Image courtesy KPMB Photo © Nic Lehoux Photo © Nic Lehoux Photo © Nic Lehoux Photo © Nic Lehoux Photo © Nic Lehoux Photo © Nic Lehoux Photo © Nic Lehoux With the goal of attracting talented new employees, a global company built a new headquarters building in Austin, Texas.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12465 Sat, 01 Apr 2017 08:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12465-ottobock-north-american-headquarters-by-page 1704-Good-Design-is-Good-Business-Page-Austin-Texas-Ottobock-North-American-Headquarters-01.jpg White sculptural forms cantilever over the reception and employee-lounge areas; expansive white walls are an homage to the company’s Bauhaus-era offices in eastern Germany. Photo © Casey Dunn The showroom features a “welcome wall” of local reclaimed pecan boards signed by employees and guests. Photo © Casey Dunn Every office element was carefully detailed; conduit is bundled to the surface of exposed concrete joists, freeing up space for acoustic ceiling panels and the elevated floor. Photo © Casey Dunn Arcing walls transition into glazed offices, while seating by Vitra creates casual meeting areas. Photo © Casey Dunn Photo © Casey Dunn Photo © Casey Dunn Photo © Casey Dunn Photo © Casey Dunn Image courtesy Page In its 19th year, Architectural Record’s annual Good Design is Good Business Awards recognizes exemplary architectural solutions that were instrumental in the growth and success of a range of businesses—from startups to not-for-profits to major corporations.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13482 Wed, 01 Jun 2016 11:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13482-good-design-is-good-business-2016 In spite of users’ grumbling about noise, distractions, and lack of privacy, the open-plan workplace—in its post-cubicle incarnation, with flexible, casual seating, and ample places to commune and play—continues to gain dominance in office design.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/11716 Wed, 01 Jun 2016 08:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/11716-horizon-media-headquarters-by-ai-architecture-plus-information In a former printing plant in New York, A+I left the existing concrete structure exposed and inserted a boardwalk in the middle floor of this triplex occupied by Horizon Media. Photo © Magda Biernat A steel stair cuts through a central space. Seating, edged in spalted maple, encourages spontaneous gatherings. Photo © Magda Biernat An outdoor terrace is accessed by a platform raised to the height of the window sills. Photo © Magda Biernat New concrete plinths and platforms play off the existing concrete columns to accommodate different kinds of meeting spaces. Photo © Magda Biernat An axonometric drawing indicates how the boardwalk on the middle level of the three floors connects various functions. Image courtesy Architecture Plus Information One of the rectangular openings cut into the floor allowing occupants on the 16th floor see the boardwalk below. Photo © Magda Biernat The Observatory on the 15th floor is a longue with an eight foot wide poured concrete table. Photo © Magda Biernat A secondary open stair was inserted at the northwest end of the triplex to help circulation within the large floor plate. Photo © Magda Biernat Split-level meeting places provide privacy along with the possibility for spontaneous interaction amongst colleagues. Photo © Magda Biernat This group of alcoves on the 15th floor is one of the most popular semi-private spaces in Horizon’s headquarters. Photo © Magda Biernat Meeting spaces and conference rooms edge the boardwalk on the 15th floor. Photo © Magda Biernat For the first permanent home of SFJAZZ in its 35-year history, organization founder and executive artistic director Randall Kline sought to bridge that dichotomy.

]]> 1505-sfjazz-center-mark-cavagnero-associates.asp Sat, 16 May 2015 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/5993-sfjazz-center-by-mark-cavagnero-associates The facade's glass panels have slightly different spacing between levels to create visual syncopation.   Photo © Tim Griffith In the lobby, a floating stair features titanium railings.   Photo © Tim Griffith Steeply raked seating imparts a casual conviviality to the auditorium.   Photo © Tim Griffith Linden facade   Photo © Tim Griffith Lobby   Photo © Tim Griffith Photo © Tim Griffith 2nd Floor lobby terrace   Photo © Tim Griffith Auditorium beneath the balcony   Photo © Tim Griffith Auditorium   Photo © Tim Griffith Image courtesy Mark Cavagnero Associates goncharj@bnpmedia.com (Joann Gonchar, FAIA) Roughly five years ago, the leaders of Swedbank decided to move their operations out of the office building they had occupied for four decades in the heart of Stockholm.

]]> 1505-swedbank-headquarters-3xn.asp Sat, 16 May 2015 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/5994-swedbank-headquarters-by-3xn The building's 'folded triple V' plan and the diagonals in its glass-and-aluminum cladding make for a dynamic facade.   Photo © Adam Mørk The folds define five skylit atriums. Two of these dramatic spaces contain a sculptural spiral stair.   Photo © Adam Mørk Employees are not tethered to a specific desk. Instead they can select a different work space daily. Their choices include a long shared desk or roomy upholstered seating in the library, tables near one of the many coffee stations, and glass-enclosed conference rooms.   Photo © Adam Mørk Employees are not tethered to a specific desk. Instead they can select a different work space daily. Their choices include a long shared desk or roomy upholstered seating in the library, tables near one of the many coffee stations, and glass-enclosed conference rooms.   Photo © Adam Mørk Employees are not tethered to a specific desk. Instead they can select a different work space daily. Their choices include a long shared desk or roomy upholstered seating in the library, tables near one of the many coffee stations, and glass-enclosed conference rooms.   Photo © Adam Mørk Photo © Adam Mørk Photo © Adam Mørk Photo © Adam Mørk Photo © Adam Mørk Image courtesy 3XN Image courtesy 3XN Image courtesy 3XN Image courtesy 3XN Image courtesy 3XN Lentzl@bnpmedia.com (Linda C. Lentz) You don't need retail savvy to sense the success of the two-year-old women's shoe department on the second floor of Macy's Herald Square.

]]> 1505-macys-herald-studio-v-architecture.asp Sat, 16 May 2015 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/5991-macys-herald-square-by-charles-sparks-company Studio V reimagined the original 1902 building's hypostyle retail hall. Existing portals between it and the adjoining annex were made wider and faced with the Calacatta Tucci marble that also surfaces the floor in Fine Jewelry and resembles existing stone at the entrance.   Photo © Paul Warchol New venues and services are attracting a range of customers'local and visiting'into the store. A bridal jewelry shop adjacent to Fine Jewelry on the main floor offers personalized service in elegant surroundings.   Photo © Paul Warchol Stella 34, a Michelin Guide'rated trattoria with polished decor and views of the Empire State Building, replaces a sixth-floor stock room in which the windows had been blocked.   Photo © Paul Warchol The women's shoe department by Charles Sparks + Company is one of the largest in the world, with designer boutiques and roomlike areas that focus on individual brands or style categories. A caf' with views of Broadway (behind the curved wall) is a gracious addition, serving champagne and chocolate as well as specialty coffees.   Photo © Paul Warchol The open main selling floor is flanked by curved stairs that lead up to a sculptural mezzanine around it, while fluted columns and high coffered ceilings hide mechanical and technology systems.   Photo © Paul Warchol Memorial Entrance on West 34th Street   Photo © Jayd Jackson Broadway fa'ade and entrance with recently exposed mezzanine windows.   Photo © Jayd Jackson Broadway fa'ade and entrance with recently exposed mezzanine windows.   Photo © Jayd Jackson Broadway fa'ade at 35th Street entrance to store and Stella 34, Macy's Michelin Star-rated restaurant   Photo © Jayd Jackson Existing Broadway fa'ade and entrance prior to Kennon's renovation. At the time of this photo, the 1902 building's original mezzanine windows were still covered by granite.   Photo © Jayd Jackson Renovated Seventh Avenue entrance with new LED display   Photo © Jayd Jackson Newly opened street-side and mezzanine windows along the West 34th Street fa'ade allow passersby to see what's happening in the store'and also bring daylight inside.   Photo © Jayd Jackson The Grand Retail Hall with curved stair to the mezzanine   Photo © Paul Warchol Existing wood elevators were repaired and restored   Photo © Paul Warchol Recently installed escalators in the Grand Retail Hall lead up to the new shoe floor and Herald Square Caf'.   Photo © Paul Warchol 2nd Floor Women's Shoe Department   Photo © Charlie Mayer 2nd Floor Herald Square Caf'   Photo © Charlie Mayer New men's store, main floor   Photo © Charlie Mayer New men's store, 2nd Floor   Photo © Charlie Mayer New men's store, 4th floors   Photo © Charlie Mayer New men's store, 4th floor   Photo © Charlie Mayer New men's store, 4th floor   Photo © Charlie Mayer New men's store, 4th floor   Photo © Charlie Mayer