North of Urban Workplace

Hired by a long-term tech client to develop the design for one of their existing workplaces, the design team was tasked with bringing a mix of environments visually and functionally together—one floor was a blank slate while the other three floors were partially fitted out. One of the goals was to ensure the reuse and incorporation of materials and furniture that the client had available to reduce waste and add personality to the spaces.

Within the theme of infrastructure, the design team was inspired by the abundance of natural, intrinsic, or hidden aspects of Washington’s transportation infrastructure, which allowed the design team to create an interplay between human-made structural and biophilic colors, textures, and shapes. Additionally, the workspaces offer grand views of the surrounding Washington landscape, which was advantageous to the design and the user experience.

Each of the four floors of the building took slightly separate routes for their inspiration: train transitions, waterways, invisible transportation, and evergreen infrastructure. Each theme evoked unique, specific visuals and feelings surrounding characteristics of the Seattle area, including public transportation, coastal views and vocations, aviation (planes, birds, and technology), and the rainforest of the Pacific Northwest.