Reach out today and let’s talk about your next project. ALDERS.COM A Leading Distributor of Specialty Building Materials MHTN is committed to sustainable standards and applied both LEED and WELL principles to the design of its new office space. Ultimately, LEED principles were incorporated, but WELL certification was prioritized. Motivated, in part, by the issues that surfaced during the pandemic, the team decided that the design would focus on the health and well-being of their workforce. The project involved a full demolition and new interior construction of the studio office space. The design goal was to maintain the industrial style of the space and preserve historic elements. The existing concrete columns and caps were left exposed as well as the large monitor windows at the top of the gallery. On the main floor, the most important window walls were preserved for the majority of staff by keeping the space open and clear. Project rooms were placed to capture daylight, and a work café with full amenities and an all-hands meeting space was included. The new studio is an immersive space for design exploration and collaboration. Staying true to the existing palette of steel and brick, the space is light and airy. The project prioritized incorporating natural light into its space, transforming the former industrial space into a studio that features long, tall, clerestory, industrial proportioned windows with a floor-to-floor height originally designed to maximize daylight for the finishing touches of car assembly. Natural light reaches various kinds of private and collaborative spaces MHTN designed throughout the office, from individual workspaces to project rooms, a fabrication lab, the materials library, the lounge deck and the café. By exposing employees to the natural cycles of light throughout the day, the office’s design boosts mood, energy and productivity. And, as a result, Pinon says, “This is our testing ground where we can experiment. This is our story.” Darrah Jakab, an associate principal, spearheaded the WELL Certification effort. She noted that the process was as much about policy as design. They had comprehensive conversations about design with policy and procedure. They formed a Well-Being Committee. The decision to pursue WELL certification forced them to look at themselves objectively, and they made performance-based decisions that were very detailed. She says, “The certification holds your feet to the fire.” To reach goals, some of the company changes they made were to incorporate training funds, physical activity incentives and healthy food options into their corporate ethos. Additionally, they test their water quarterly and have included air quality sensors, measures to ensure thermal comfort, and plants, greenery natural patterns, sounds, textures and materials to satisfy their workers’ desires to connect with the outdoors. How do they feel now that they have settled in? The group noted that they have zero regrets. Of course, it would have been nice to have more money, maybe a little more expansion space, but they are figuring it out. Heather Knighton, marketing principal, noted that they have already made some changes since moving. They just reallocated where people are sitting based on teams. The office design process has helped them do a deep, introspective dive and determine who they are, what they want to be, how they work and how they shift. MHTN is not finished asking questions about what is next for them. McDonough Jan observed, “Here is a lot of change happening in the state — businesses coming in. We will keep adapting to evolving market sectors.” Practicing architecture continues to evolve; technology advances, and as Darrah observed, ever-shrinking deadlines require being on top of it. However, a willingness to embrace change and emerging technology and to be on top of it is something that MHTN has done very well for over a century. 25
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