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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.

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