CLIENTUrban Land Institute

SERVICESInteriors, Workplace Strategy

LOCATIONWashington, DC

SIZE34,000 sq ft

STATUSCompleted 2016

With the goal of engaging their growing membership of architects, planners, developers, and municipal entities in an ongoing dialogue, ULI approached STUDIOS to design a dynamic workplace that eliminates functional silos, increases visible leadership, and enhances the membership experience.

Shared work areas
Shared work areas
Library
Library
Quiet Room
Quiet Room
Meeting room
Meeting room
Flexible, configurable conference rooms
Flexible, configurable conference rooms

STUDIOS' design designates 40 percent of ULI’s new office to event space that staff can share with its members and the community. The end result is a chief destination and resource for ULI members to interact, collaborate, and share knowledge with each other and the surrounding community.

The remaining 60 percent of space is designated for ULI staff. Due to inadequate space to support a traditional workplace environment, the workplace design focuses on a variety of unassigned, individual, and group meeting spaces. In accordance with ULI’s cloud-based operations, a free address concept is integrated within the organization's new space that maximizes productivity levels and access for staff, giving employees the freedom to decide how, when, and where to work within the building.

Dedicated area for events with pantry
Dedicated area for events with pantry
Flexible work area
Flexible work area

ULI identified three pillars of their core strategy and motivation for moving to a new office: connection, collaboration, and contribution.

Working with ULI from top to bottom to conduct a site search in which cost was the constant, we produced a variety of building options that varied in size. The unique opportunities of each site we scouted greatly impacted the interpretation of the proposed program and design. The selection criteria focused on enhancing the user experience, enabling and supporting transparent communication throughout the organization, and developing a robust design. Collaborating with key stakeholders and staff, our strategy for ULI’s new office included a rich variety of workplace experiences to be shared by both staff and ULI members.

In order to transition the staff from a traditional office environment with assigned space to a highly mobile, transparent, and shared environment, STUDIOS engaged ULI in a robust Change Management process prior to move-in. This process emphasized ULI’s mission and how the new environment supported and enhanced the ability to realize project goals.

PHOTOGRAPHYBruce Damonte