Working closely with the CEO and employees of international consulting firm Charles River Associates (CRA), Elkus Manfredi Architects has transformed the company’s headquarters and four additional offices to express the firm’s culture, support the performance of its exceptional staff, and attract the world’s top talent.
Elkus Manfredi Architects’ transformativeworkplace redesign of CRA’s Chicago office at One South Wacker Drive unifies the company’s existing two-floor office and replaces the previously dim, dark, crowded environment with a daylight-filled, expansive workplace within the original two-floor footprint.
Elkus Manfredi’s Vice President and Workplace Strategist, Linda MacLeod Fannon, summarizes the approach of the Elkus Manfredi designers and the Chicago CRA team: “Just because there is a trend, it doesn’t mean you have to follow trend. CRA’s Chicago team truly investigated what was right for them versus what everyone else is doing.”
Elkus Manfredi led a paradigm-setting consulting process that established company-wide workplace space metrics centered on activities, tasks, and interaction points in the space. These metrics provide the functional foundation for the design solutions.
As with the previous CRA offices the firm has designed, Elkus Manfredi created a balance of private spaces for the quiet, focused, head-down work that CRA consultants are largely engaged in, with inviting and inspiring gathering areas for the relaxation, refreshment, and spontaneous exchange that is equally crucial to peak staff performance.
MacLeod Fannon continues: “Interestingly, natural light was our most important material in our charge to transform the full two floors. The South Wacker building was a challenge in and of itself because it has a layer of dark film on its windows for sun protection, and the windows were all half-height, one-story windows. Figuring out how to bring in the natural light was as much a part of our design directive as how to change their work experience and how to incorporate the Chicago team’s culture. For this CRA team, it was important that they felt at home at work.”
Material Used :
1. Reception area light fixtures - manufacturer: Lightmaker Studio, product: Brance, color: Vintage Brass
2. Reception area rug – manufacturer: Bentley, product: Kings Road, Color: Constellation
3. Reception area flooring – Manufacturer: ABC Flooring, product: Statuary, finish: Honed
4. Reception seating area sofa (4 seat)– manufacturer: Fritz Hansen, product: Lune Sofa 4-Seater, upholstery: COM (Maharam-Hallingdal 103 for outer shell, Camira-Synergy Serendipity for inner)
5. Reception seating area lighting– manufacturer: YLighting, product: Grus Floor Lamp, Finish: Matte Black
6. Reception seating area side table – manufacturer: Stellarworks, product: Ren Side Table, finish: Walnut wood
7. Reception seating area rug- manufacturer: Steven King, product: #41293, color: Lamu II
8. Reception seating area sofa (2 seat)– manufacturer: Fritz Hansen, product: Lune Sofa 2-seater, upholstery: COM (Maharam-Hallingdal 103 for outer shell, Camira-Synergy Serendipity for inner)
9. Reception seating area coffee table– manufacturer: KGBL, product: Pintor Coffee Table, finish: Walnut wood, Blue Glass
10. Reception seating area chair– manufacturer: Fritz Hansen, product: FRI lounge Chair, upholstery: COM (Maharam0Hallingdal 103 for outer shell, Camira-Synergy Serendipity for inner)
11. Reception seating area beverage bar– Elkus Manfredi Custom designed beverage bar (made by millworker: WM Huber Cabinet Works Inc.) with Olive Ash buried wood veneer, and Quartzite stone counter top in color Ice Quartz
12. Reception desk area Marble Stone Flooring - manufacturer: ABC Flooring, product: Statuary, finish: Honed
13. Reception desk – Elkus Manfredi Custom designed desk (made by millworker: WM Huber Cabinet Works Inc.) with matte black metal frame, Olive Ash buried wood front, and Quartzite stone counter top in color Ice Quartz
14. Reception desk area glass - Vivid Glass custom silkworm pattern glass in custom matte black frame system
15. Stair beverage bar - Elkus Manfredi Custom designed beverage bar (made by millworker: WM Huber Cabinet Works Inc.) with Olive Ash buried wood veneer, and Quartzite stone counter top in color Ice Quartz
16. Stair railings - #8 Mirror Polished Stainless Steel railings
17. Stair flooring – Solid Rift Cut White Oak, custom stained
18. Stair risers– Clear tempered glass risers
19. Stair to Café side table – manufacturer: Holly Hunt, product: Lens Side Table, Finish: Polished chrome base, turquoise acrylic top
20. Stair to Café chair – manufacturer: Fritz Hansen, product: RO High back chair, upholstery: COM (Maharam-Hallingdal 103 for outer shell, Camira-Synergy Serendipity for inner)
21. Stair to Café railing - #8 Mirror Polished stainless steel
22. Stair to Café flooring – Solid Rift Cut White Oak, custom stained
23. Reception to Café beverage bar - Elkus Manfredi Custom designed beverage bar (made by millworker: WM Huber Cabinet Works Inc.) with Olive Ash buried wood veneer, and Quartzite stone counter top in color Ice Quartz
24. Reception to Café railing - Mirror Polished stainless steel
25. Reception to Café flooring – Solid Rift Cut White Oak, custom stained
26. Café Stair flooring – Solid Rift Cut White Oak, custom stained
27. Café Stair railing - Mirror Polished stainless steel
28. Small Meeting Room Fabric Wrapped wall panels - manufacturer: Carnegie, product: Xorel Nexus, color: 902
29. Small Meeting Room rolling chair – manufacturer: Davis, product: Body Task Chair, upholstery: White Leather
30. Small Meeting Room table – manufacturer: Nienkamper, product: Cone Table, finishes: White Glass top, polished chrome base
31. Small Meeting room credenza – manufacturer: Datesweiser, product: Highline Credenza, finishes: Custom stained oak wood with polished chrome legs
32. Café Marble Stone Flooring – manufacturer: ABC Flooring, product: Statuary, finish: Honed
33. Café table – manufacturer: Davis, product: Veer Table, Finishes: White Laminate top, Stainless Steel base
34. Café chair – manufacturer: Muuto, product: Nerd Chair, finishes: Black wood
35. Café hightop table – manufacturer: Halcon, product: Hugo Hightop Table, finishes: Custom stained wood
36. Café lighting – manufacturer: BOMMA, product: Soap Pendant, Finishes: Hand blown glass
37. Workstation lighting – manufacturer: Tracy Glover, product: Blackburn Pendant, finishes: Primavera Bubbled Steel Blue Glass
38. Workstation flooring – manufacturer: Bentley, product: Kings Road, color: Constellation
39. Workstation table – manufacturer: Andreu World, product: Closed Table, finishes: Custom stained Oak Wood
40. Workstation chair – manufacturer: Andreu World, product: Flex Stool, finishes: Oak wood base, upholstery: Maharam-Meld-Wave
41. Workstation divider – Vivid Glass in custom blue color
42. Herman Miller open workstation. (All private offices by Geiger.)
