[All Photos by BUILD LLC]
Now that team BUILD has settled into the new headquarters, it’s an excellent time to review the interior improvements of the office. Today’s post takes a dive into the materials, specifications, and groups essential to bringing the project all together. For information on the exterior of the building, check out our earlier blog post.
WALLS, FLOOR & CEILING
All interior surfaces of the existing building were in need of an update and we stuck with standard painted gypsum wallboard for all vertical surfaces in the office space. The existing slab on grade was resurfaced with a self-leveling lightweight concrete, and the ceiling was painted with a dark charcoal to fade it into the background.
DOORS
We wanted the front door to be both highly machined and also welcoming. An aluminum, thermally controlled swinging door by La Cantina was the solution, and it does a nice job creating transparency along the primary exterior wall. Inside, a pair of Raumplus S42 series doors stand 8’-9” tall by 3’-3” wide and offer visual privacy in the conference room. We often specify Raumplus doors because they maintain a light, airy feel while their attenuated design allows them to easily glide along tracks in spite of large panel sizes.
KITCHEN
A functional kitchen is no small feat for a small office space, and we maximized the utility without giving up too much square footage. The BUILD kitchenette includes a stainless steel countertop with integral sink basin by Metal Masters Northwest, Inc. This assembly, specified with an orbital finish, is nearly indestructible. The Brizo 63020LF Solna faucet in polished chrome is a time-tested favorite and we’ve paired it up with the Insinkerator FHC1100 instant hot/cold filtered water dispenser. We used an Insinkerator Pro 750 ¾ HP disposer and specified the GE Monogram ZIBS240HSS under-counter bar refrigerator with ice maker (an important feature for our Friday wrap-up drinks) from Metropolitan Appliance.
BATHROOM
The bathroom consists of a Duravit Vero Washbasin, a Riobel GS01C single hole faucet, and a Toto MS854114 Ultimate elongated one-piece toilet. Having access to an office shower is a huge benefit as it promotes alternative methods of commuting and overall fitness (complementing our proximity to Green Lake nicely). The Kohler Stillness series shower head finishes out this shower along with a frameless glass enclosure by Herzog Glass. The wall mount mirror is topped with an Alinea series light by Aamsco.
ELECTRICAL
Because the space is a simple, open box, we knew the lighting would be a central design feature. We chose the Nolan LED aluminum square profile suspension lights from Birchwood Lighting and we’ve been very happy with them. These lights look sharp and minimal, and most importantly, they’re dimmable. We’ve been surprised at how much range we require out of the lights between the bright afternoons and dark evenings, and the Nolans deliver.
Black track lighting by Juno is discretely fixed to the ceiling while highlighting a large expanse of wall above the window line. This “blank canvas” will eventually display an art installation. The conference room is celebrated with the BUILD halo. The Erika LED 3×3 suspended ERI light is made of extruded aluminum and brings a nice aura to our primary meeting space. We also love the clean lines and similarity to the suspension lights in the office space. At the kitchen, under cabinet strip lights offer excellent task lighting for the countertop and sink space below.
The audio at BUILD is powered by a Sonos system, controlled by iPad or iPhone, keeping fresh work tunes playing all day long in the background. A 55” Samsung flat screen in the conference room allows us to easily project digital presentations up on the working wall, which we painted dark to tie in with the black flat screen. This working wall is a constantly updating snapshot of the current projects on our desks. Two black 56” Regency Industrial ceiling-mounted fans keep the air moving in the space while minimizing visual noise.
SHADES
The windows are outfitted with Phifer Sheerweave roller shades in Pearl Gray with a 1% open weave and a clutch & chain drive, supplied by AV Outlet. The system is connected to a motor, making the end of day closing up routine simple and quick. The shades close with the touch of a button, lending a very 007 feel to the headquarters.
HEAT
The heat is delivered via Base Ray cast iron baseboard radiators. Once again, the selection was based on high function with little visual embellishment.
DESKS & BUILT-IN CABINETS
The desk modules and cabinets are kept simple and straight-forward throughout the space. 5/8” Apple-ply sheets box out the desk areas and scribe to the floors to visually reduce any variations in the floor surface. We like using the proverbial solid-core door slab for our work surfaces as it demonstrates an industriousness and resourcefulness about the work we do. The door slabs cleat to the walls and are located just high enough to slide conventional 2-drawer file cabinets and custom built cubby and drawer systems beneath.
Large Apple-ply cabinets (moved from our previous space) offer plenty of display space for material samples, while new built-in cabinetry displays architectural models and books throughout the office. A hybrid shelf-stair cabinet prominently displays models at the entry and sets up the discrete steps leading to the loft above. The exposed side profile of the material showing the different layers is very much intentional throughout the space as we like the aesthetic honesty.
The bathroom and kitchen are finished out with matching cabinets and Mockett DP3 tab pulls for drawers and doors. All cabinetry was completed by JW Woodworks.
LOUNGE
The office space came complete with a 5’-0” loft space ideal for storage. In a nod to the film Being John Malkovich, coupled with a need for a reading/resting nook, we embraced the concept of floor 7½, and furnished a portion of the loft with a lounge complete with Big Joe bean bags and lunch seating by Ikea.
MASCOT
The move to a new office required another important addition to the BUILD family — an office dog. Jackie, a Blue Heeler puppy, is fitting in quite well with the office culture. Her day to day mostly involves sleeping under the desk, playing tug-of-war, and barking at passersby. A great guard dog in the making.
That’s the scoop on the interiors of the recently completed BUILD World Headquarters. It’s been a good application of tried-and-true methods and materials as well as allowing opportunities for some new strategies. Stay tuned for more on the exterior program once we get some sunshine and warmer temps back.
Cheers from Team BUILD