2nd place (tie):
Name: Deborah Warren
Firm: FFKR Architects; SLC, UT
Client: Layton Corporate Center; Sandy, UT

Budget: $ 990,000 plus lobby rugs (includes $42,000 design fee)
Completed: May 28, 2002
54,000 sf, 3 floors

The Layton Corporate Offices is a new building adjacent to an existing structure built to accommodate the construction company's growth. The client's objectives included giving the employees an adequate work space including the ability to layout 2 full-size (36" x 42") drawings at each workstation, room to spread out project notebooks, storage within the workstation, and providing a comfortable working environment.

To provide space for drawings, binders and project notebooks, we designed 10' x 10' U- shaped workspaces. Two sides of the workstations are 36" deep. One of the 36" deep work surfaces is a free-standing table's height is adjustable, allowing for change from sitting to standing positions to reduce fatigue during the day. Underneath the panel-hung, 36" deep work surface, we provided shelving for storage of project binders and specifications. Each workstation has a slat rail tile with a choice of paper management and accessory tools, an optional white board tile and two storage pedestals to help clear the work surface clutter.

The feeling of open space was also a great concern and was addressed by maintaining a 5' aisle between the work surfaces and the building core, and the work surfaces and the perimeter windows. The workstations are grouped to allow almost 10' between each workstation cluster. In that space are lateral file cabinets grouped together with a ¾" glass common top. The common top is at standing height which provides a work surface for people to collaborate, review drawings, brainstorm or meet spontaneously.

The perimeter of each floor is floor to ceiling glass. To maintain the view in the open office areas, shorter panel are used to allow for communication over panels at sitting height. The higher panels which support the overhead bins are oriented perpendicular to the windows and lined up with the building columns to minimize view obstruction. Perforated window coverings were used, and where private offices occur at the perimeter glass, all office walls are floor to ceiling glass to allow natural light for the entire building.