The client was unhappy with the architect plans (left), primarily the office layout was not conduvice to collaboration and they saw much wasted space. Notice the concrete post in the middle of the hall between the top left office (A) and the meeting room (M) below - "completely unacceptable" for the client. Offically, the architects only planned for two offices, A and B. A large meeting room was designed, with inset counter (though no plumbing). At the bottom is what could be called another office (D), however without a window it was called a workspace or lunchroom, and a small storage (S) space. Finally, in the middle (C) was the common space where the general office staff would work - immediately in the middle of the pathway to the bathroom and offices A and B. The doors for office A and B were quite distant making direct communication more difficult, and thus less likely. Office B door was unfortunately adjacent to the bathroom.

The challenge was to modify the layout within the constraints of the already-built building and pre-installed equipment (hvac, which required plumbing already constructed). Required by the client was to have three offices which allowed for face to face communication fostering an exchange of ideas. The common workspace must not be in the central path of the office which was likely to disrupt the workers in that area, as well limit the layout of furniture to ensure a free pathway.

The accepted design (right) solved all the issues of the client. The concrete post first and foremost was incorporated into a wall out of the way and virtually gone. Three offices (1,2,3) were designed with the office doors adjacent but laid out in such a way to enure noise and conversation from one office did not leak into the next. It further allowed for management to casually discuss ideas in person without unnecessary effort. The office doors are not located near the bathroom door. The meeting room was not eliminated, instead it became a workspace which could be split into two separate offices (4) if the need ever arose.

The storage/file room (5) was expanded to allow the necessary storage, which was "woefully inadequate" according to the client. A proper lunch space was also designed with full plumbing service (6) where the plumbing already existed (architect lunchspace had no plumbing available).

The common space (7) was relocated into the old meeting room eliminating the disruption to staff in the area and effectively increasing the usable space without increasing the physical space. In addition a entry space (8) was created to allow visitors somewhere to sit while waiting, which was not planned in the original, or at least a separate space was not planned.

Finally, the bathroom area was expanded to incorporate a shared shower space with the fitness room. This was important to the client, if possible, to allow staff to bike to work and shower when they arrive.

Lighting was a critical issue to the client, constrained by the available pre-purchased lighting in 3-models. The offices must have adequate light as per building code standards and minimization of shadows was important. Architects often design lighting in the middle of the room, and office desks usually go near a wall - therefore it is very common you are always working in a shadow of yourself. This was solved by simply placing the lighting over where the furniture was planned - something architects often ignore.

The final design was accepted by the client with minimal changes along the way. They were estatic with the improved design and could not believe how the space became friendly and usable. After working in the offices for a few years, they still comment on how amazing the space is to work in.