At a time when hybrid work is fragmenting firm culture and downtowns across the country are striving to retain professional life, the client’s Rochester headquarters proposes an alternative: architecture can actively repair both. Located within the historic Sibley Square complex, the project transforms an existing office floor into a deliberately anti-hierarchical workplace that redistributes daylight, views, and amenities away from individual offices and toward shared experience. The design positions the workplace as a civic interior, reflecting the firm’s belief that collaboration, equity, and connection are architectural responsibilities.

Research and firm-wide engagement confirmed evolving work patterns and a desire for flexibility, well-being, and meaningful in-person collaboration. In response, the design integrates interior greenery – green walls, planters, and indoor gardens – that fosters a biophilic environment, enhances air quality, and supports mental and physical health. Collaboration spaces occupy the most desirable locations, while individual workstations serve as flexible “home bases,” balancing privacy with shared experience.

The plan harmonizes quiet, collaborative, and social environments through acoustic zoning, varied spatial scales, and thoughtful material choices. Sustainability strategies prioritize reuse over replacement; retaining the existing building and furniture extends embodied energy and reduces material waste, contributing to LEED Silver certification.

By remaining downtown, the client reinforces Rochester’s economic and social vitality, keeping over one hundred employees in the urban core. The project demonstrates that thoughtful workplace design can strengthen organizational culture, enhance occupant wellness, and create meaningful connections to the broader community.