929 Pearl Street

 

929 Pearl

 

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What is the future of offices? This is the question we asked ourselves as we embarked on the design and construction of our new office. While Rodwin Architecture and Skycastle Construction are well respected for creating some of Boulder’s best custom green homes, it’s less well known that over the years we’ve also designed a lot of beautiful offices.

We’ve been in an historic landmark on the corner of 13th & Pearl for the last 17 years, and the office suite we designed and built for ourselves held up surprisingly gracefully. One year ago, we decided to finally move. As the pandemic eased and we looked at coming back, we realized that we had grown so much while working remotely that we no longer had room for everyone to return. Additionally, work had changed. Everyone was Zooming, so we needed Zoom rooms, small conference spaces, and better acoustic separation. We rigorously studied what makes for an ideal modern office environment. We wove biophilic (nature informed) design into our new DNA. We found a blank office space in an existing mixed-use building with good bones (operable windows, tall ceilings and an abundance of natural light, still in the heart of walkable Pearl street, but in a more modern building with ADA access (ie. an elevator and handicapped accessible bathrooms)) and a deep commitment from the landlords (Conscience Bay) to sustainability.

In a wonderful bit of real estate karma, the space shares access to a giant patio that we designed for Bacaro restaurant 18 years ago. We held a number of fabulous social events there this past year under the dappled shade of the bi-facial solar PV panel canopy that powers our office and the free EV charging in the garage below.

Our new office embodies what we believe is an ideal office environment – one that entices staff from the comfort and convenience of their home. A diverse ecosystem where people can find their own ideal work environment – one that has a variety of different kinds of spaces from private offices, to hot desks and communal work spaces, and a gradient of everything in between.

Our standard work station is a simple and highly functional sit/stand desk with acoustic panels and robust integrated tech conveniences. We have private and semi-private offices, Zoom/nursing rooms (to support a family-friendly atmosphere) and multiple conference spaces with hybrid meeting capability, including a Vibe board where people can draw collaboratively on-screen. File drawers and paper are nearly gone, but a vibrant library of architectural books, art and photos of our work decorate the space. Living walls clean the air, soften the sound and keep us connected to the outside world. An understated palette of natural-themed colors, materials and patterns make the space beautiful and visually calm. The sounds of a fountain provide helpful white noise. An abundance of windows and skylights keep us attuned to the path of the sun through-out the day and year. Energy-efficient, full-spectrum LED lights reduce eye strain and adjustable window coverings control glare on screens. Low & no-VOC finishes contribute to healthy indoor air. A full kitchen, outdoor dining patio, bike racks, lockers, and a shower make it easy for staff to exercise and have high-quality downtime at lunch. Oh, and we welcome dogs.

At the end of the day, creating a beautiful, functional, sustainable office is about providing a high quality of life for everyone who works there. Happy staff and clients lead to successful relationships and projects. And that’s good for business.

 

 

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