flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

New Tommy Bahama HQ looks to ‘Make Life One Long Weekend’ for its employees

Office Buildings

New Tommy Bahama HQ looks to ‘Make Life One Long Weekend’ for its employees

Approximately 400 employees will occupy the SkB Architects-designed space.


By David malone, Associate Editor | February 20, 2018

Photo: Magda Biernat

Tommy Bahama’s new 120,000-sf Seattle campus has a design focused on user experience and was inspired by the company’s ethos to “Make Life One Long Weekend.”

The open, casual setting has spaces that feature a natural material palette and rich textures such as woven fabric wall coverings and rough-honed stone. A “grand boardwalk” organizes the space and draws guests from the main lobby and reception to the showroom, mock store, and collaborative workspaces. Casual seating areas line the boardwalk and provide opportunities for informal gatherings.

 

Tommy Bahama headquartersPhoto: Magda Biernat.

 

Workspaces have been designed with flexibility in mind so users can tailor the environment based on departmental and team requirements. The reception area and amenities are located on an intermediate level of the HQ’s four floors to ensure employee interaction and social engagement.

The company decided to lease the floors for the headquarters space in the base of the office tower as opposed to the upper floors in order to create and reinforce physical and visual connections to the community. Breakout and workspaces were designed around large four-story light monitors with access to the market hall at the base of the building to encourage gathering.

 

Photo: Spencer Lowell.

 

Each floor has its own coffee bar and a 1,000-sf café on the main level opens out to a 1,500-sf roof deck. The office’s customized workstations feature sit-to-stand desks, ergonomic monitor arms, and task lighting.

The building team includes SkB Architects (interior architecture and interior design), MKA (structural), Lima (lighting), GCH (landscape), Stantec (acoustical), Commercial Office Interiors (furniture procurement), University Mechanical (mechanical-plumbing design-build), Veca (electrical design-build), Skanska (contractor).

 

Tommy Bahama roof gardenPhoto: Magda Biernat.

 

Tommy Bahama reception areaPhoto: Magda Biernat.

Related Stories

| Apr 2, 2013

6 lobby design tips

If you do hotels, schools, student unions, office buildings, performing arts centers, transportation facilities, or any structure with a lobby, here are six principles from healthcare lobby design that make for happier users—and more satisfied owners.

| Mar 29, 2013

PBS broadcast to highlight '10 Buildings That Changed America'

WTTW Chicago, in partnership with the Society of Architectural Historians, has produced "10 Builidngs That Changed America," a TV show set to air May 12 on PBS.

| Mar 29, 2013

Shenzhen projects halted as Chinese officials find substandard concrete

Construction on multiple projects in Guangdong Province—including the 660-m Ping'an Finance Center—has been halted after inspectors in Shenzhen, China, have found at least 15 local plants producing concrete with unprocessed sea sand, which undermines building stabity.

| Mar 15, 2013

7 most endangered buildings in Chicago

The Chicago Preservation Society released its annual list of the buildings at high risk for demolition.

| Mar 14, 2013

25 cities with the most Energy Star certified buildings

Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Chicago top EPA's list of the U.S. cities with the greatest number of Energy Star certified buildings in 2012.

| Mar 13, 2013

RSMeans cost comparisons: jails, courthouses, police stations, and post offices

The March 2013 report from RSMeans offers construction costs per square foot for four building types across 25 metro markets. Building types include: jails, courthouses, police stations, and post offices.

| Mar 12, 2013

'World's greenest' office building seeks tenants in Seattle

Superefficient Seattle office building is designed to meet the ambitious goals of the Living Building Challenge.

| Mar 4, 2013

Korean Air, AC Martin collaborating on Western region's tallest tower

The 1,100-foot Wilshire Grand will combine retail and restaurant space, offices, and a luxury hotel in the sky.

| Mar 3, 2013

Hines acquires Archstone's interest in $700 million CityCenterDC project

The Washington D.C. office of Hines, the international real estate firm, announced the acquisition of the ownership interest of their partner, Archstone, in the mixed-use CityCenterDC project that is currently under construction in downtown Washington, D.C.

| Feb 28, 2013

Greeening Silicon Valley: Samsung's new 1.1 million-sf HQ

Samsung Electronics' new 1.1 million sf San Jose campus will support at least 2,500 sales and R&D staff in the company's semiconductor and display businesses.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Curtain Wall

7 steps to investigating curtain wall leaks

It is common for significant curtain wall leakage to involve multiple variables. Therefore, a comprehensive multi-faceted investigation is required to determine the origin of leakage, according to building enclosure consultants Richard Aeck and John A. Rudisill with Rimkus. 




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021