by ArchitectureWeek

Can architecture really improve a company's bottom line? Do innovative architects have a special affinity with "new-economy" corporations? The American Institute of Architects thinks so. In demonstration of this belief, they have recently unveiled ten winners of the third annual awards program co-sponsored by Business Week and Architectural Record magazines.

The ten projects differ widely in size, character, and location, yet all demonstrate how their designers have tuned in to ways that people and organizations work and play in the 21st century and how an architectural solution can enhance corporate or institutional goals.

According to AIA President Ronald L. Skaggs, FAIA, the award-winning architects "bring a perspective that goes beyond deploying the latest technology. These examples show how a well-designed workplace enhances employee productivity and morale; how established cultural institutions redesign their missions to connect with new, more sophisticated audiences; and how learning environments inspire when designs reflect thoughtful consideration of needs and contributions."

"New-Economy" Workplaces

Several of the winning projects displayed innovative approaches to workplace design. In an effort to attract and retain the most qualified workers, modern companies are rethinking how to adapt space comfortably to teamwork.

For example, Ground Zero, in Marina del Rey, California, designed by Shubin + Donaldson Architects, was founded on the premise that "the process shouldn't get in the way of the product."

The fast-growing, young advertising agency called for maximum design creativity, stipulating that communication within the firm and access for clients was more important than departmental hierarchy.

Ground Zero, by Shubin + Donaldson Architects, is more a creative campus than a typical office. Photo: Tom Boner The Valeo Technical Center was intended as a world-class facility to assist in retention of skilled technical staff in an intensely competitive market. Photo: Paul Warchol   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.