The CareerBuilder HQ in Chicago occupies 75,000-sf across three and a half floors at 200 N LaSalle Drive. The renovation project turned the workspace into an open-plan concept that houses executive staff, administrative staff, and sales in an inclusive and non-hierarchical workplace.
Visitors and employees are welcomed into the space via a multi-use lounge and pantry space and a wide reception area that serves as a large hub. Deeper into the space, a centrally-located feature stairway functions as a main artery to connect all of the levels. The stairs are framed by two exposed columns, encased and illuminated within corrugated polycarbonate sheets that display the building’s industrial interior. A training center is separated from other areas with a garage door to allow the center to be acoustically isolated when needed and open when not in use.
Tall partition workstations and private offices were eliminated to strip the space of hierarchical design elements and were replaced with low partitions and benching-style workstations for a more horizontal organizational structure. The workspace is split into neighborhoods to promote movement and employee connections through spatial planning and vertical connections. Conference rooms, which were wrapped around the core to allow natural light to permeate the office throughout, and phone rooms were integrated into the floor plan to provide employees with breakout spaces for meetings and quiet focus.
See Also: 1010 On-The-Rhine creates a walkable destination in an underutilized part of Cincinnati
In order to help with employee health and wellbeing, uplighting was installed to help reduce glare and eye strain, workstations were outfitted with height-adjustable desks, and the dispersion of smaller breakout spaces encourages employees to move around the office throughout the day.
Related Stories
| Apr 15, 2013
Advanced lighting controls and exterior tactics for better illumination - AIA/CES course
To achieve the goals of sustainability and high performance, stakeholders in new construction and renovation projects must rein in energy consumption, including lighting. This course presents detailed information about lighting control strategies that contribute to energy efficient buildings and occupant well-being, as well as tips for lighting building exteriors effectively and efficiently.
| Apr 6, 2013
First look: GlaxoSmithKline's double LEED Platinum office
GlaxoSmithKline and Liberty Property Trust/Synterra Partners transform the work environment with the opening of Five Crescent Drive
| Apr 5, 2013
No evidence that mandatory building energy labeling improves efficiency, study says
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International and the Greater Boston Real Estate Board (GBREB) released a report, “An Economic Perspective on Building Labeling Policies,” that questions the efficacy of mandatory building energy labeling.
| Apr 5, 2013
'My BIM journey' – 6 lessons from a BIM/VDC expert
Gensler's Jared Krieger offers important tips and advice for managing complex BIM/VDC-driven projects.
| Apr 5, 2013
Projected cost for Apple's Campus 2 balloons to $5 billion
Campus 2, Apple Inc.'s proposed ring-shaped office facility in Cupertino, Calif., could cost $5 billion to build, according to a report by Bloomberg.
| Apr 3, 2013
5 award-winning modular buildings
The Modular Building Institute recently revealed the winners of its annual Awards of Distinction contest. There were 42 winners in all across six categories. Here are five projects that caught our eye.