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Case Study: Looks Like A Brand New Day at BRR

The new floor plan for our Kansas City office will maximize usable space and give the firm's interior environment an exciting new identity.

Pilar Lang: Interior Design Pilar holds a Bachelor of Interior Design degree from Kansas State University. In early 2006, she joined BRR. Pilar is currently working on the Remodel Team.

Megan Whitman: Interior Design Megan holds a Bachelor degree in Interior Architecture and also minored in Business Administration from Kansas State University. She joined BRR in 2006 and is currently working on our Remodel Team.

Our Challenge
BRR staff has experienced impressive growth over the last 15 years. In late 1991, BRR had just 9 staff members. Today we are nearly 155 strong in our Kansas City location alone. Through the years, we have been able to expand into adjacent spaces in our current building as our growth dictated. As we begin to plan our next expansion effort, BRR has decided to take a comprehensive look at our entire space and re-think some of the efficiency, layout and design of our workstations and offices.

One of the biggest challenges we have in undertaking an entire office expansion / remodel project is the unique building footprint, the structural elements of the building, the building core components and the vertical circulation elements. The areas are an array of tall gray workstations positioned at every angle to optimize space. Currently, the floor plan layout could not be any more efficient using our existing systems furniture. The redesign of our office environment must address the following key ideas:

• offering employees more natural day lighting and exterior views,
• embracing technology,
• incorporating a bistro / kitchen / gathering area;
• adding larger conference rooms;
• addressing clear circulation paths,
• creating informal teaming areas,
• removing unnecessary corridor walls, and
• creating a more functional and overall design oriented environment.

Our Solution
The driving force behind our design solution is to move all the currently enclosed offices to the interior core of the building, which will open up the exterior windows and give that daylight back to the rest of the office. No more corner offices that restrict visibility. This allows workstations to be placed around the perimeter of the space, maximizing natural daylight. With our offices moving to the center core, their footprint becomes smaller but more efficient, with new, functional furniture systems that best suit the allotted space and task areas.

The new offices will feature banded windows along the top to allow natural light to enter, yet will not compromise privacy. By increasing the efficiency and reducing the size of the offices, BRR interior designers will be able to add additional workstations and clean up circulation patterns. Since BRR currently occupies the entire third floor, our new design solution will also reduce unnecessary corridor partitions. This additional square footage will be turned into informal teaming areas. These teaming areas will cut down on the amount of traffic to and from the current conference rooms, offering a more "hands-on-feel" to the office.

With our expansion on the 2nd floor, space will be created for a bistro area. This functional space will be used for social events as well as our internal lunch and learning educational programs. Another major change to the original floor plan will relocate our primary entrance from the 3rd floor to the 2nd floor, which will overlook a visually appealing atrium space in the building allowing for a much larger main conference room on this floor.

BRR's new main entry will feature enhanced media technology and a greater glimpse of who we are as a firm. With natural sunlight entering from the atrium as well as coming through the back windows of the conference room, a more inviting, natural atmosphere will be created. Designated storage areas and libraries will help to consolidate resources throughout the office.

Our Results
By internalizing the offices to the buildings core, there will be a much more open and clear visual understanding of BRR's office layout. The interior design solution will maximize natural light exposure for our staff members. Circulation will be cleaner and more cohesive, enabling staff to quickly find their way.

Concepts such as teaming areas will encourage staff to interact more easily with their team members and engage other teams. Applying the proposed floor plan will maximize usable space, sustain existing furniture systems and give the firm's interior environment an appropriate and exciting new identity.