“I love the new office! I feel like I work in New York City !” This is just one of a multitude of positive comments from a local Marsh employee regarding the recently completed Salt Lake City office relocation for Marsh USA . Their new 15,000 sq.ft. office interior was completed in March of 2004 by Edwards & Daniels Architects, Inc. within a construction budget of $730,000. An international company, Marsh not only wanted to create an extremely functional environment and a professional corporate image - according to established Marsh international office standards – but to provide an edgy environment for a “traditionally-minded” corporation where employees could thrive in and enjoy. To accomplish this EDA used materials with varying textures, colors and scale to provide visual and tactile interest.

The elevator lobby features anigre wood veneer angled walls that “slide” by massive sandstone wall panels and stainless steel elevator surrounds. The flooring is a combination of polished and honed black granite with copper accents that reinforce shapes expressed in the ceiling by floating gypsum board and perforated metal ceiling elements. EDA developed the concept of overlapping “planes” of materials - both vertical and horizontal - on a black “open to structure” canvas to create a sense of movement and depth. The extensive use of glass opens up “enclosed” rooms to the core functions to accentuate views to the exterior. Recessed ceiling-mounted rolling shades provide multiple levels of privacy and light control when necessary between these various areas of use.

Unlike the traditional office, but consistent with creating a comfortable, productive work environment, open office workstations were located adjacent to exterior windows to allow all employees to enjoy natural daylighting and incredible city and mountain views. The Break Room is also located on the exterior to provide a retreat from the office stresses and is appropriately sized for staff meetings.

Although a complete gut of the existing space was required to meet Marsh's space requirements, EDA was sensitive to minimizing the impact on the environment by reusing existing light fixtures, lay-in ceiling tiles and grid, doors, frames and hardware from the previous tenant. EDA mixed these existing controlling elements into the design of the new space plan to create a consistent design that does not highlight the difference between new and relocated elements - but plays off of those “differences”. Carpet tile throughout the office area and linoleum flooring in the Break Room manufactured by environmentally-sensitive companies was also specified because of their reduced impact on the environment.