Gensler Space Exemplifies Creative Trend

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NEWPORT BEACH, CA-Design firm Gensler has revealed the look of its newly redesigned space here at 4675 MacArthur Court exclusively to GlobeSt.com. The space exemplifies the growing creative-space trend in offices and shows how users can take full advantage of this trend in a two-floor set-up.

Centered on the 30-year-old firm's extensive workplace research, Gensler's new office—which the firm has occupied for just a few months—incorporates all four work modes: focus, collaboration, learning and socialization. The space integrates a variety of work settings, including a design innovation lab, circular resource library public gallery and care and informal meeting spaces, and capitalizes on an abundance of natural daylight.

MacArthur Court owner Irvine Co. significantly reinvested in the property last year, offering two newly remodeled conference centers, and onsite gym and a new open-air plaza designed as a mobile work area with complimentary WiFi and plug-ins for laptops. These amenities, and the opportunity to create a “workplace of the future” connecting two vacant floors, were all factors for Gensler's relocation, according to the design firm.

“We've embraced innovation through every component of our new home in Newport Beach,” says Kim Graham, principal and managing director at Gensler Newport Beach. “Our employees were fully engaged in the design strategy for our workspace as our goal was to accelerate connectivity, creativity and productivity. As a result, we reduced private office space by 50% and introduced social, learning and focused workspaces to foster collaboration and inspiration among our designers.”

The design philosophy fuses elements of “the modern beach house” with a commitment to sustainability. LEED-Platinum certification is being pursued for the building.

Graham tells GlobeSt.com that embracing a more collaborative workspace “was really a great opportunity for us to do some of the things we do with our clients. We're thrilled with how it turned out.”

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Technology elements like the ability to conference with clients via video anywhere in the office where there is a flat screen and move laptops freely around the space help foster collaboration and creativity, Graham adds. While there are plenty of areas for heads-down work, the office has a bench-style approach to its workstations. “People do need to get up and move around and collaborate with a variety of people for different lengths of time,” she says. “They now have the choice of different workspaces in addition to their own.”

While Gensler's space doesn't utilize a free-address system—whereby no one has an assigned workspace—Graham says many clients like that system as long as there is a choice of spaces for different types of interaction. Gensler's space features a lab for all-staff gatherings and placemaking events that can hold up to 65 people, and its furnishings can be moved around to configure it for the needs of the day.

“One thing we're really excited about is our own personal front door,” Graham adds. “We're right in the front, and people are always looking in to see what's going on. There's great energy here.”

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