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Architect's New HQ Is a Living Portfolio of Its Workplace Design Strategy

The Design Firm Transformed Its Boston Office to Fit Its Own Culture
(Darrin Hunter, courtesy of Dyer Brown)
(Darrin Hunter, courtesy of Dyer Brown)

Last year, architecture and interior design firm Dyer Brown turned its 50 years of globe-spanning workplace strategy expertise inward.

“As designers of workplaces of all kinds, we believe that the best offices are the ones that reflect and support the culture of the company working there," says Karen Bala, director of design at the firm.

That's why, when Dyer Brown set out to redesign and expand its own headquarters in downtown Boston, its head designers knew it was essential to work through the same proprietary visioning process they use to guide clients. The entire staff participated in the exercises to ensure that everyone's voice would be heard, and the results became major drivers of the final design.

“We learned that our employees collectively prize three particular things they think a workplace should provide — comfort, productivity and well-being," says Bala. “We set out to create a workplace with those as our guideposts."

Hospitality-Inspired Office Design

In the new 10,000-square-foot space, a variety of furniture options suit individual work styles and encourage various seating postures, highlighting an employee-driven preference for cozy spaces to foster creativity and spontaneous conversations.

Notable spaces include mezzanine workstations with sit-to-stand desks — illuminated by overhead fixtures constructed from noise-attenuating materials—as well as lounge spaces with charging ports for devices, hoteling areas, “speakeasy" meeting rooms (available to book using a web-based scheduling app), and wall-inset, upholstered "cubbies" for individuals. The cushioned cubby insets are a nod to Dyer Brown's design of Criteo's playful Boston office.

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(Darrin Hunter, courtesy of Dyer Brown)
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(Darrin Hunter, courtesy of Dyer Brown)
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(Darrin Hunter, courtesy of Dyer Brown)

The reception area is designed as a cozy café with counter seating and pendant lighting, featuring still and sparkling Bevi water on tap.

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(Darrin Hunter, courtesy of Dyer Brown)

Additional office amenities include lockers, a shower room, a mother's room, and a wellness room for quiet reflection, meditation and catnaps.

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(Darrin Hunter, courtesy of Dyer Brown)

“The overall aesthetic is hospitality-inspired," says Bala. “Millennial and Generation Z recruits typically want an office that is welcoming, comfortable and sustainable — one that supports them in their workday pursuits."

An Unconventional Design Concept

For the overall design concept, the team at Dyer Brown drew from the charming characteristics of the historic building itself — One Winthrop Square, which was built in the late 1800s — as well as the energy of Boston's Financial District.

“The double-height, street-level windows and other aspects allowed us a great deal of freedom in the design and supported some unconventional choices," says Bala.

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(Darrin Hunter, courtesy of Dyer Brown)

Such unconventional choices include a design concept inspired by the formation and structure of geodes — rocks that have plain exteriors, but when cracked open, contain beautiful crystals.

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(Darrin Hunter, courtesy of Dyer Brown)

“The design concept represents our firm's evolution over time and our physical space itself, with its plain, traditional exterior containing colorful dynamism within," explains Bala. “To reference the crystalline interior, hexagon patterns can be found throughout the headquarters."

A Living Portfolio for Clients

The redesign fully supports the firm's culture and workflow, serving as a living, three-dimensional portfolio to clients.

“Comfortable furnishings and dynamic palettes of colors, patterns, finishes, and themes present opportunities for a company culture to express itself in authentic, appealing ways," says Bala.

Items such as touchless faucets reveal aspects of the firm's workplace wellness strategy, while color-temperature-tunable lighting in the design library allows designers and clients to observe finish materials in the anticipated environment of a completed project.

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(Darrin Hunter, courtesy of Dyer Brown)

Dyer Brown regularly creates custom wall coverings with original patterns for clients, so the firm chose to showcase new custom coverings in its own conference rooms and huddle areas.

“Some visiting clients may ask about the palette of finishes, while others will want to know about our wellness amenities," says Bala. “Every corner contains a conversation starter."

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(Darrin Hunter, courtesy of Dyer Brown)
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(Darrin Hunter, courtesy of Dyer Brown)

In addition, the firm moved to a completely cloud-based workflow at the same time as the redesign, with technology and infrastructure upgrades, and was therefore fully prepared for the move to 100% remote work required by COVID-19 guidelines.

Employee-Led Design

Bala credits Dyer Brown employees for making the space unique.

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(Darrin Hunter, courtesy of Dyer Brown)

“It was their input and dedication to the visioning process that led to the design outcome," she says. “The hospitality- and residential-inspired palette of finishes, fixtures and furnishings was developed based on their collective suggestions."

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(Darrin Hunter, courtesy of Dyer Brown)

With employees lending such a strong voice to the design, it's no wonder they're pleased with the outcome.

“Our post-occupancy survey revealed that our staff is very happy with the redesigned office," says Bala. “Everyone feels part of a unique culture of design excellence."