.This project takes a practical, 'Blue-Collar' approach rather than aiming for 'High Design.’

The goal was to create a flexible, functional office environment that meets the client's density and budget needs while balancing modern trends with established workplace traditions in a subtle, aesthetically pleasing way. Achieving this was not an easy feat.

RIT’s University Advancement offices were previously scattered across campus, leading to a sense of disconnection. The goal was to consolidate the staff to foster greater collaboration and efficiency. With a limited budget, they envisioned a new office space on the first floor of a newly acquired commercial building, a former ‘big-box’ bookstore. Our role was to transform this space into an effective work environment.

The challenges included: working within the confines of a small space for a growing department, balancing privacy with openness, and creating an understated design that would endure over time, all while encouraging staff to spend more time in the office.

The solution started with an ‘urban grid’ layout, organized into quadrants (or neighborhoods) that share a central communal space (like a public park). This high-bay atrium functions as a flexible area for casual work, breaks, training, meetings, and events. The volume of the atrium alleviates the density of the surrounding offices and provides a space for informal gatherings and spontaneous conversations. The existing skylight brings natural light into the center of the office, and the escalators create dynamic circulation, linking the University Advancement team to other departments on the upper level.

This project was an exercise in maximizing every square inch of space, analyzing organizational needs, handling future growth, and accommodating various hybrid work models—ultimately creating a comfortable and intuitive space that feels deceptively simple.