The traditional office space needs to evolve once again as companies navigate a post-COVID workplace. While many people have expressed a sense of isolation due to the pandemic, getting employees excited to come into the office after a prolonged period of working remotely can be challenging for an employer. It’s a reality every company is dealing with and one that the Columbia project addresses by offering an array of amenity spaces that encourage people to travel to the office.
LRS Architects partnered with one of the nation’s largest malt beverage distributors, Columbia Distributing, to design a 60,000-square-foot headquarters space in Wilsonville, Oregon. Completed in September 2020, this project created a space that met the client’s desire to increase employee connectivity, reflect their culture, and cultivate an environment that makes employees proud and excited to come to work every day. While many of the designs were unique to Columbia, several features may be applied to other office spaces.
The inspiration emerged from the prolific lush nature of the Pacific Northwest and the beverage industry that brought attention to the region. This created the “Refined Grunge” design that includes a variety of textures and incorporates the elements of wood and terracotta with metal, stone, and glass of beer bottles.
The top priority of this project was to get people excited to come back to work after working remotely for a prolonged period. We accomplished this with the Columbia project by offering multiple amenity spaces. The office has a variety of open and enclosed meeting areas, employee-centered spaces to gather, and break rooms, all inspired by the design team’s optimal workplace strategy concepts.
LRS and Columbia agreed that the project needed a space where people were willing to travel. After two years of working from home, the design team understood that employees would benefit from areas that enabled them to be in individual and collaborative spaces. Additional workspaces of various scales and levels of seclusion offer users the freedom to work closely with colleagues or seek refuge for individual-focused work. The lounges help promote ongoing creativity and engaging conversation between co-workers, with an atmosphere that balances comfort and productivity.
An interior “Boulevard” connects two disjointed wings and acts as a path seamlessly guiding employees through the space. The prominent custom light fixture aids wayfinding through the “Boulevard,” which encompasses a large open staircase connecting both floors as people travel from the pub to the break room. Along the path are several break-out areas such as meeting booths, bench niches, casual seating areas, and seated or standing open conference rooms. The plethora of options allow employees to choose the workspace they prefer. The ability for people to choose how they work, based on their tasks, is an important component of the modern office and a successful office return.
Formerly used for manufacturing, the space has been integrated into the large open gathering area by design. Two training rooms were placed alongside the pub, which allow for the use of moveable partitions that can be used to create three individual rooms or one huge gathering space. When open, this pub creates the perfect venue for activity. The design team repurposed a glass-enclosed lookout at the stair landing, overlooking the manufacturing floor connecting the pub to the lobby.
This state-of-the-art workplace balances a comfortable atmosphere and a productive landscape, bringing the exterior environment inside with custom murals. Natural light fills areas with multiple workspace options and helps ensure that employees will connect in engaging ways. This space was designed to promote creativity and get employees excited to return to a distinct workplace.
Evolving is necessary for business, and companies need employees at their best to succeed. Offices must foster an environment that people want to travel to. Providing an engaging and comfortable workspace is essential in bringing employees back into the office. The Columbia project is a blueprint other companies can emulate as the world continues to adapt and change to suit one of our most human needs, connectivity with others.
Amalia Mohr is a principal at LRS Architects, Inc., with a background in architecture and interior design focusing on commercial interiors and civic projects. She is a great communicator who facilitates productive discussions with clients and project partners to advocate for design.