Our client, Capstone Partners, is no ordinary developer and they envisioned a headquarters as unique, and equitably designed, as they are. Their award-winning reputation for responsibly blending historic neighborhoods with new construction to create inclusive contemporary urban living, set the tone for this compact, but functional and highly personalized space in Portland’s Slabtown. The interior design fuses essential office elements for serious business and collaboration with a fun, quirky, “work hard, play harder” spirit.
Key to achieving this balance – and promoting equity through design – was incorporating the unique identities and needs of all the employees. The planning phase revealed their interests in Portland history, vintage decor, and neon details, which we translated into a “curated eclectic” design concept with a vibrant color palette and industrial-antique details.
Upon entering, the first focal point is a gondola repurposed from the Colorado ski slopes with custom geometric-patterned wrapping to match the space’s palette. More than a novelty item, the gondola offers much needed audio privacy for quiet phone calls in the small office. Walking around the office reveals more unexpected moments, like a vintage Hollywood movie spotlight, barbershop pole, and art, all contributed from the co-founder’s collection. Slabtown’s industrial past appears in the visible ceiling beams, custom exposed conduit-inspired wall sconce, and fully windowed garage door that connects the office to bustling local shops outside.
Bold colors are splashed throughout: Warm salmon walls surround the break room while an intimate seating area is enclosed by sunshine yellow. Custom wood slatted dividers separate work areas without obstructing natural light entering via the garage door from permeating the narrow, otherwise windowless space.
Working with just 1,185 sq. ft., we maximized style and function by creating destinations that offer different work environments. Whether it is leaning against the break room counter for a casual conversation, reviewing blueprints at the large collaboration area table, or delivering a presentation in the formal conference room. There are even dedicated spaces for their strategic partners to work and collaborate – a significant commitment to promoting the social equity work of their guests given the small footprint of the headquarters.
Our client’s passion for corporate responsibility informed our design expertise, and vice versa, pushing us to design consciously, collaboratively, and functionally, spotlighting elements that are special to the employees.
