City in a Park

 

An exquisitely dynamic workplace capturing the energy of Charlotte's character and recent ascent.

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It was time for the Real Estate Solutions group of this Confidential Financial Client to turn over a new page in their Charlotte workplace story. The project is the first to implement new palettes developed in line with the client's space modernization guidelines, providing a fresh update to an already distinct design language.

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About more than just finishes, the palette - "Natural Chic" - is about having a story. The design is Charlotte through and through - inspired by the concept of a "city in a park" to reflect the many verdant public spaces flanking Charlotte neighborhoods. In the workplace, each neighborhood on the floor is adjacent to a "community garden," a portal that adds a pleasant, momentary beat for separation between workspaces, lockers, and circulation areas. Color schemes and Instagrammable custom graphics differentiate the neighborhoods, named after iconic Charlotte neighborhoods like Dilworth and South End. Accompanying graphics of plants native to the area create a sense of place near lockers where the staff, which has adopted dynamic seating, stores belongings. Finishes throughout the space are a study in contrasts between sharp and soft, with homespun wicker light fixtures, vivid carpeting and throw pillows, and metallic privacy partitions between workspaces and collaborative zones.

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With such a refined and energetic palette, the stage is set for two amenities in particular to shape the workplace culture. First, a library provides an unexpected and placid retreat with acoustic ceiling panels. While they appear felt-like, the panels are actually made from recycled plastic, enhancing the space's texture and speaking to a commitment to sustainability. In the library, private wood-encased booths enable focus work and high back chairs frame outdoor views of greenspace and the Charlotte skyline through deep window bays. Second, a work cafe forms a layered oasis, intriguingly merging warm leathers with light woods, crisp tiles, soft greys, and pops of wine-red and green that playfully interact with the suspended row of potted plants in the kitchen. Corner views, a bold graphic rug depicting a range of artful succulents, and a wide variety of seating options from banquettes to barstools and cafe seats culminate in an indescribably lively zone that makes the workplace a true destination.

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Single-use, gender-neutral restrooms form a part of the client's mission to support inclusivity. It all rolls up into a wider belief in choice and community as key cultural drivers for this client, as expressed through their space and how they work. This workplace represents a Charlotte on the rise; it both celebrates and augments the city's ongoing transformation.

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