When Pioneer Aero Supply began planning its new headquarters in Chicago’s East Garfield Park neighborhood, the company wasn’t simply looking for more space. It was looking for a workplace that reflected how far it had come and where it was headed next.
An aviation aftermarket company providing aircraft parts to airlines and maintenance facilities around the world, Pioneer Aero has grown from just five employees in 2020 to approximately 60 people across seven countries. Its previous office no longer reflected that trajectory, nor did it support the collaborative, people-first culture Founder and President Ali Shojaat envisioned for the future.
“We had outgrown our old space,” said Shojaat. “More importantly, we wanted a headquarters that reflects who Pioneer is and supports the next phase of our growth.”
That search led him to an industrial warehouse just west of downtown Chicago. While many would have seen aging concrete, exposed brick and steel, Shojaat recognized possibility. “I’ve lived in Chicago for many years, and I love the city,” he said. “Being close to downtown was important because we wanted to be part of Chicago’s business community. When I saw the building, I looked past the warehouse and saw an opportunity to create something special.”
Transforming that vision into an inspiring workplace required more than a renovation. It required a design partner capable of balancing performance with personality; one that could preserve the building’s industrial character while creating a headquarters that felt distinctly Pioneer. That’s where Chicago-based interior architecture and design firm Kuchar entered the picture. Rather than beginning with aesthetics, Founder and Creative Director Sarah Kuchar-Parkinson and her team started with a more fundamental question: How do the people at Pioneer actually work and what kind of environment helps them do their best work together?
“Too often, workplace design starts by asking what’s trending,” said Kuchar-Parkinson. “We prefer to begin by understanding how a company works, how its people interact and what kind of culture it’s trying to build. Once you understand that, the design starts to reveal itself.”
That philosophy shaped nearly every decision throughout the approximately 8,000-square-foot headquarters. Kuchar led the project from space planning and interior architecture through construction administration, procurement and installation, transforming what had once been warehouse space into a workplace designed to support both focused work and meaningful human connection.
Perhaps nowhere is that philosophy more evident than in the office’s floor plan.
At a time when many organizations continue to embrace expansive open offices, Pioneer Aero made a deliberate decision to move in another direction. Sixteen private offices line the perimeter of the third floor, while the center of the workplace is devoted to shared experiences: a generous conference room, café, lounge, wellness room, phone room and collaborative gathering spaces. “We didn’t want to copy a trend,” said Shojaat. “Some of our work requires privacy, concentration, and deep focus, so private offices made sense for how our team works. At the same time, we included open and collaborative areas, and the second floor will eventually create even more shared workspace. The goal is to give people the right environment for the work they’re doing.”
For Kuchar, the layout reinforces a broader shift in workplace thinking. Rather than prescribing one “correct” way to work, the office acknowledges that different tasks and different personalities require different environments. Careful planning also ensures natural light continues to penetrate the building’s core, allowing enclosed offices to coexist with bright, inviting communal spaces.
“Design trends come and go,” said Kuchar-Parkinson. “Understanding people never goes out of style. Our responsibility is to listen first and create spaces that support the way our clients actually work—not the way we think they should.”
Equally important was creating opportunities for people to connect away from their desks.
“We wanted more than a place to work,” said Shojaat. “We wanted a place where relationships and culture could grow. The café and lounge give people a chance to step away from their desks, have real conversations, share breakfast or lunch and relax together after work. Culture is built in those moments.”
That balance between focus and fellowship became one of the defining characteristics of the project. While the workplace was designed around human behavior, it also celebrates Pioneer Aero’s industry. Rather than relying on literal aviation motifs, however, Kuchar drew inspiration from the experience of flight itself — the movement, rhythm, precision and craftsmanship that define modern travel.
Curved architectural forms echo the aerodynamics of aircraft. The sculptural reception wall follows the sweeping arc of Pioneer Aero’s logo. A suspended light fixture references the buckle of an airline seatbelt, while hardware throughout the office nods to premium luggage. Illuminated corridors subtly recall airport runways, creating moments of recognition without ever becoming overt.
“We weren’t interested in creating an office that looked like an airplane. The inspiration came from the feeling of travel itself — the movement, the materials, the experience. Those subtle references create a stronger emotional connection than anything literal ever could,” said Kuchar-Parkinson.
One of the project’s most memorable moments is the custom reception desk, wrapped in a leather-look laminate that folds downward like an aircraft wing. Selected for both its durability and tactile quality, the material references finely crafted travel goods while introducing warmth into the industrial setting.
For Shojaat, that restraint became one of the project’s greatest strengths. “The luggage-inspired front desk surprised me most. It makes a strong first impression and showed me how aviation could be represented in a subtle, professional way without making the office feel like a theme park,” he said.
Throughout the headquarters, Kuchar embraced the building’s existing character rather than concealing it. Exposed concrete columns, original brick walls, and industrial steel remain proudly visible, providing an authentic backdrop for warmer interventions including natural wood finishes, layered textiles, refined lighting, and curated commercial furnishings.
That dialogue between old and new continues through the project’s material palette. Concrete meets leather-inspired finishes. Existing steel is softened by warm oak. Textured wallcoverings introduce depth without competing with the architecture, while a broader palette of blues, greens, warm yellows and vibrant accent hues expands Pioneer Aero’s visual identity beyond its recognizable logo.
“Branding isn’t about repeating one color,” said Kuchar-Parkinson. “It’s about expressing a company’s personality. Pioneer’s signature blue gave us the foundation, but the supporting palette creates warmth, optimism, and a more human experience throughout the office.”
Some of the project’s most memorable spaces are also its quietest. A wellness room features softly illuminated cloud-inspired wallcoverings that evoke the feeling of flying above the clouds at sunrise. Elsewhere, globe pendants and concealed lighting transform windowless corridors into calming transitions rather than forgotten passageways. Even the carpet subtly references topographical mapping, while a cockpit-inspired phone room — currently nearing completion — extends the concept into one final immersive moment.
Taken individually, these gestures are understated. Together, they create an environment that feels unmistakably connected to Pioneer Aero without ever relying on obvious symbolism.
Today, the headquarters is doing exactly what both client and designer hoped it would do. Employees have embraced the space, visitors frequently comment on its character and abundant natural light and the office has become a physical expression of the company’s values — visionary, welcoming and deeply invested in its people. “The impact has been very positive. Our team genuinely enjoys the space, and you can feel the energy when you walk in. Customers often comment on the character and natural light. It creates a strong first impression, and it has become a place where people enjoy being together. That’s what we hoped for,” said Shojaat.
For Shojaat, however, the headquarters represents more than a successful workplace. It reflects the company’s next chapter—and its ambitions for the future. “We’re still early in our story,” he said. “We’ve grown quickly, but we see much more ahead. This headquarters represents a new chapter and is built for the future team and company we’re becoming.”
It is this intersection of growth, culture and human experience that makes the project so compelling. More than a headquarters, the space serves as a reminder that the most successful workplaces are designed around the people who bring them to life.