Laura
Greenwood
Commercial Office Project:
Virzoom
Project Background
YEAR: SPRING 2019 - Junior Year
LENGTH: 12 WEEKS
SKILLS: Revit, InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Space Planning, Research
CLIENT: VirZoom
CONCEPT: Collaborative Success
PROJECT SIZE: 12,500 SF
The new VirZoom office is designed as an open office plan, to create a collaborative workplace for the growing company. VirZoom is a virtual reality fitness company that designs virtual games to be played while on a stationary exercise bike. The company motivates people to be active, by making exercise enjoyable. VirZoom is structured as a team-oriented, holacratic organization. They work together in clusters, that make up teams, which work together to make a final product.
The solution to the design fosters collaboration, efficiency, creativity, and the well-being of all its users. Meeting areas are included in the space as both private and more public areas, giving workers options for what best fits their needs. The space supports interaction with incorporation of large meeting spaces that are for both business and social uses. By considering spacial layout, ergonomic furniture, lighting and color, the new VirZoom office space allows the staff to thrive individually and as one.
LEVEL1 FLOORPLAN
LEVEL 2 FLOORPLAN
The office is designed to encourage interaction between departments. The first level of the suite mainly houses business related departments, while the second level is more creative departments. The stairs are located to allow efficient travel, and collaboration between floors, to support the use of teamwork in the office.
Although the whole space is intended for interaction, the division between business and creative departments by floor, is a solution to noise control. Ceiling baffles are also incorporated in work-zones to absorb and diminish sound.
The office is a representation of the VirZoom Brand. The Reception is where visitors make a first impression of the office, and VirZoom. The ceiling drops down, in cylinder forms, to direct visitors to the reception desk. Through the use of color - on the walls, and in materials and signage - and form, VirZoom is branded into the space from the start, creating a first impression and making the office hard to miss. An open view to the workstations makes the company transparent, showing they are reliable and driven to make the user experience improved.
RECEPTION
WORK STATIONS
Color is continuously used throughout the office to connect the space to the company. Yellow and red are two dominant colors used by the company, because of this, they were chosen to be used as way-finding, distinguishing a change in department in the ceiling baffles.
Glass walls are used where possible to utilize natural sunlight. This helps improve the well-being of employees, and gives views to the outside, giving workers a break from the computer screen.
Throughout the work zones are various meeting areas, some more formal, like conference rooms, and others less formal and meant for quick conversations. The office also includes rejuvenation spaces, a café and a coffee bar.
UPSTAIRS AND THE "ZOOM" ROOM CAFE
The stairs are a junction point in the office. Used by many, they are designed to promote interaction. They are made up of two “U” shaped stairs, which are connected in the middle by a large landing. The stairs are designed to be easily accessible, and a potential interaction point within the office.
The café is another location within the office that encourages interaction among staff. This space seats 24 people, with a variety of seating options. Most seating is in the form of group seating, inviting co-workers to take breaks together and interact. Designing for interaction allows staff to be comfortable while they relax, and build strong relationships with their peers.
CAFE ELEVATION
REFLECTIVE CEILING PLAN
Level 1 RCP
Level 2 RCP
The RCP above shows ceiling heights, with the lightest shade being the highest ceiling height and the darkest the lowest. In the work areas baffles were used. These baffles help with acoustics and bring the ceiling height down in those areas to make them have a more private feel. Aside from offices and conference rooms, most spaces within the office were kept as open ceiling, allowing the office to be open, and united as one.