We couldn’t choose just one. So we decided to give you both! These two amazing projects from Vocon are a lesson in not just thinking outside the box, but how to get your hands dirty as a designer.
We encourage you to study the photography of each office first and take a few guesses at what their line of work is before reading their backgrounds. You won’t believe what goes on in these places, as their aesthetics alone certainly don’t reflect their businesses in the traditional sense. They do however perfectly embody each firm’s culture and passion.
It shows that if surrounded by what they love, workers will pour that back into their work—resulting in a happy, productive, and most importantly, successful force.
sam schwartz engineering
New York, N.Y.lace of the future
Sam Schwartz Engineering (SSE) is a firm steeped in history. Schwartz himself has been on the cutting edge of communicating traffic patterns and civil engineering in New York City for decades. So their new offices needed to reflect that in a fun and engaging way that would foster a new generation of forward-thinking engineers—all converged onto a very tight floorplate.
The first task for Vocon was to create a unique experience within the reception area. “They didn’t want to be the same old stagnant engineering company,” explained Lance Amato, RA, LEED AP BD+C, IIDA, director.
Amato recalled piling into a van and taking a trip to the New York City Depot of Signs (yes, there is such a thing) where signs of all types and direction from the 1930s on go to die. They gathered up a number of them and for more than 16 hours screwed them into the ceiling in the reception area. Underneath it is a reception desk constructed from railroad ties. “That’s their culture: very hands-on, and they love what they do,” Amato said.
Recurring elements throughout include the wheel (as biking is very popular within the Sam Schwartz team), and materials such as metal and concrete. Traffic lights are used to signal conference room occupancy, while silhouettes of pedestrians adorn the walls. High-traffic zones are noted with stripes down the center of the carpet to create the sense of a roadway.
SSE also wanted the opportunity to expand in the future. A collaborative, open environment achieves that with benching solutions that allow for flexibility if additional employees should come on board. Additionally, sliding cubby units can create privacy or be moved closer to make room for the new talent who will undoubtedly be attracted to a space that embodies such original thought.
zashin & rich
Cleveland, Ohiolace of the future
It’s all in the details. Nobody knew that better than the legendary band Van Halen, who had a very clever way to make sure the crews they worked with were always on their toes. Their request form for the venues they played would include a bowl of M&Ms with the brown ones removed.
This was the inspiration behind the Rider Bar at Zashin & Rich, a Cleveland law firm whose new space was inspired by the city’s rock ‘n’ roll history.
“The thought behind this was if they get brown M&Ms then the host/manager of the show did not pay attention to the details, possibly including the sound and concert set up and this is how they knew,” said Nick Faehnle, project designer at Vocon. “Zashin’s new Rider Bar is meant to be a place where both client and employees favorites are kept for when needed. In turn this shows [owner] Steve Zashin’s attention to detail of clients and employees enough where they feel like a rock star.”
Zashin wanted to celebrate his city and the people who make up its fabric, both past and present. Conference rooms are branded as local yet notorious venues, such as the Cleveland Arena where Elvis played his first show in the city, and the Agora Theatre where Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band played their first Cleveland show. Visitors are even welcomed by a poster of a musician smashing a guitar in the reception area.
One directive set by the client for Vocon was to achieve a more open and accessible atmosphere. This was achieved by removing doors from offices and utilizing acoustical tiles to create ceilings that weren’t oppressive. They created “huddle rooms” for times when privacy was a necessity, as well as versatile conference rooms that can be used for sensitive conversations or more in-depth research sessions.
Another source of inspiration for the interiors was the Sex Pistols’ first and only studio album “Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols.” The bright pink and yellow that graced its cover can be found throughout Zashin & Rich’s offices—not colors you’d typically find splashed all over a law firm. Because of this unique aesthetic, Faehnle reports the firm—which mainly practices family and labor law—has acquired a new type of clientele in the entertainment and sports industry. And in our book, that's proof of its effectiveness. By illustrating something vital to the firm’s core—its love for the music culture of its city—it’s built a foundation that will keep them rooted in success for years to come.
