great people
FORM AND FUNCTION
The tenant improvement design is a story in editing, revealing, and subtle moves towards functionality by a series of human scale rhythms within a majestic open backdrop of a warehouse re-gutted after it was built into traditional shell space. The site is a beautiful blend of new and old elements, encompassing the back wall and shell structure elements to an old warehouse within Sugarhouse, the existing Toys R Us loading dock, where the building owner had invested in creating a clean slate with the addition of a storefront wall of glazing onto the back of the building, facing a side street to become a new set of retail fronts, akin to a strip mall frontage.
During our initial walk-through, we caught a glimpse of the existing warehouse back wall, a gnarled composition of split face block, rebar, cuts, infills, and what once was the loading dock wall of a once thriving Toys R Us. In the creation of a new office building, the previous owners had covered everything in new sheetrock and created new shell space for retail spaces, including a new elevator and fire-rated staircase.
FINISH AND FURNITURE
We set the ‘back wall’ as front and center, and created a dramatic two storey feature wall, seen from across the street. In our imagination, partners would entertain future clients along the street restaurant and bars, and deliberately take the ‘long road home’, using the crosswalk directly in front of their front door, revealing mid-dusk and sunset scenes and layers within their space on either side of the dramatic two storey logo feature. The entry is flanked by two versions of conferencing, one enclosed in 20’ glass walls reminiscent of warehouse steel glazing proportions, and the other a true play on splayed natural wood slats, revealing and concealing the open office area layers beyond.
To tie the two floors together, we opened the once fire escape stair and created thresholds within a series of grounding masses, housing breakroom functions such as serving, storing, and eating circumambulating around the core, each side revealing a new moment of surprise and delight. Using view corridors and long view angles to pull users through the space, culminating their journey in the large training and gathering space upstairs, with incredible views East and West, and situated unobstructed with almost 600 feet of view corridor along Wilmington Avenue, offering both sunrise and sunset dramatic moments.
FACTS AND FIGURES
Client: UNDISCLOSED
Arch & Interior Design Team:
Jena Boggs, Jamie Ohls, Trent Smith
Construction Completed: May 2022
Cost per Square Foot: $136.00
Square Footage: 22,000 USF
Levels in Design: 02
Electrical Engineering: ESD Global
Mechanical / Plumbing: ESD Global
Contractor: DW Hammer
Furniture Procurement: American Interiors
Millwork: Inter-Ocean Cabinet Company
Photography: Modern Out West