Perkins + Will
The staff was encouraged to be mobile and work beyond their desks, utilizing all areas of the office to work.
Understanding what drives the need for change
Perkins+Will Los Angeles had built a reputation as one of the city's top five architecture firms, but their 70-person team was facing a spatial puzzle that would test their own design principles. The firm needed to consolidate from multiple floors into a single level without sacrificing the collaborative culture that fueled their award-winning work. The challenge went beyond simple space planning – they needed to create a dynamic environment where their architects and designers could work fluidly throughout the day, moving beyond traditional desk assignments to embrace true mobility.
The smaller footprint demanded creative thinking about how space could serve multiple purposes while accommodating both their current team and future growth. Perkins+Will wanted their new workspace to embody their belief in design's transformative power, creating an environment that would inspire both their staff and visiting clients. The project also presented an opportunity to demonstrate sustainable design practices by finding innovative ways to repurpose existing materials from their previous offices.
How we brought the vision to life
Tangram partnered with Studio Other to reimagine how an architecture firm could work within a consolidated space. The design centered on creating unpartitioned workstations that could flexibly accommodate teams of up to five people, with built-in expansion capability for busy project periods. Rather than traditional fixed desks, the team developed mobile pedestals with integrated power solutions hidden beneath sliding cushions, allowing staff to reconfigure their work areas as projects and team dynamics evolved.
The sustainability story became equally important to the functional one. Salvaged workstation partitions found new life as a striking 25-foot touchdown table, providing hoteling workspace for visiting collaborators and clients. Acrylic panels that once lined the stairwells of their multi-floor office were transformed into café tables, creating visual connections to the firm's history while serving present-day needs. This approach to material reuse reinforced Perkins+Will's commitment to responsible design while creating unique elements that couldn't be purchased from any catalog.
1 professionals brought this vision to life
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