Architecture and design firm FitzGerald has unveiled a new Chicago studio. The project was a milestone, as the team was both designer and client. It was a real-time case study which allowed the group to pilot ideas centered on the future of work, featuring flexible spaces that emphasize collaboration.
In 2019, the architects were set to relocate, but when COVID hit, plans were put on hold, and they decided not to lease the original building they had chosen. Not only was it a time of change across the globe, but one for FitzGerald as well. “There was a changing of the guard at the firm a few years before, and the pandemic added another layer to this shift. It was the most difficult time to build out a space, but it was also an opportunity to re-envision how we wanted to work,” said Kristen Larkin, principal at FitzGerald.
While planning the studio, much of the work was intuitive, and the way they brainstorm with clients. “We don’t come in and dictate the design, there is a continuous collaboration. To leverage another level of innovation, self-reflection was hugely important for FitzGerald,” noted Elma Milanovic, managing associate at FitzGerald.
With a focus on gathering and community, a hospitality zone is right at the entry, which allows employees to interact throughout the day in a relaxed setting. “A formerly dark, underutilized breakroom is now the first thing that you see when you walk into the office because that’s the cultural hub of the firm. That’s where we come together to celebrate and where we invite our clients. It was a huge shift for us,” Larkin explained.
The library is also at the front of the office, giving visitors an up-close look at the design process, which not everyone gets to see. “The library highlights why our clients come to us. This is our workshop and we create here,” Larkin said. “We put it front and center because it is the kind of space that people are excited to see.”
Adding double the amount of collaboration space was another key change, essential for FitzGerald’s teamwork, and contemplated well before the move to the current building. What might cause endless headaches for some companies was an advantage for the firm. “We had already made a lot of those decisions, because we knew they would shape the new office. And because we went through this during the pandemic, we were already ahead of the game,” Larkin noted.
She explained that the areas specifically designed for groups made the transition to a more flexible model easier for everyone. “We knew we were running out of space, and because we were committed to a hybrid schedule, we added a ton of both open and closed meeting rooms, along with the collaboration spaces. That’s the majority of the footprint. And frankly, if you walk into a workplace amid a sea of workstations, it is not going to motivate people to come in. We want to make sure to provide those places for human connection.”
Known for workplace and multifamily design, FitzGerald wanted to showcase those elements in a balanced way, without too much of a resimercial look. Larkin said they settled on a mix of contract and ancillary to create a vibe that’s more comfortable than corporate. “We intentionally went a little more casual and raw. We left the concrete exposed and brought in warmth with the furniture and these artistic moments.”
The effect is one of a canvas that allows them to present their vision in its best light, rather than formulaic interiors. “We really wanted to feel timeless, and be a good backdrop for whatever we are presenting to our clients. If the space was too loud it would have been disruptive. So everything is fairly neutral,” Larkin noted.
Milanovic first saw the office when she interviewed for a position with FitzGerald, which was a major selling point—and a sensory experience. “I immediately felt a sense of welcome, of being invited into this organization. As I proceeded through the space, and looked at the artwork and the touches like the tile backsplash, it became this journey of discovery, which is really what design is all about,” she said.
There’s an emphasis on nature, from plants to the textures, which calms and fosters the well-being of staff. “There are representations of the elements that we work with in architecture, in their purest form. For glass, we have sand, and we have textiles represented with woven materials, to really highlight the environment and to make sure that we are being good stewards. But we really wanted to maximize the views and the light, and that’s what we did,” Larkin noted.
Each component contributes to the whole to create an ideal place for work, and more importantly, an employee-centric studio. “One small workstation used to serve as a personal space, and now everything in the office is representative of the people in it. You feel like you are a part of it, and that it is meant for you,” Milanovic said.
Larkin agreed, and noted that for the architects themselves, the collective was always the prime consideration. “We are a design firm, but at the end of the day we are a service industry, and that means our most valuable asset is our people,” she added.
