For National Cooperative Bank (NCB), located in Arlington, VA, DCS Design did just that.

The overall goal of NCB’s interior renovation was to completely open the 56,000 square foot space by creating direct site-lines between individual workstations and surrounding team rooms. This helped bring in natural light to all staff regardless of where they are seated throughout the office, and capitalized on the spectacular views of National Airport, the Potomac River and downtown D.C.

To further create this connected space, the design team added a new internal staircase connecting the two floors, allowing for more natural interaction among staff. The staircase, which is strategically located adjacent to the lunchroom, acts as the nucleus of the second-floor conference center — functionally and visually connecting the various elements of the space.

“We faced many challenges during the course of this project, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Stan Sherfy, Senior Vice President, NCB. “The design process and the completed space far surpassed our expectations. The new space feels fresh, light-filled, elegant, and promotes our critical mission to serve communities in need.”

In addition to creating direct site-lines throughout the space, other design elements were thematically introduced to create connection.

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The location selected as the new home for Clare Locke LLC’s offices was a 1700’s manufacturing building with ties ranging back to the Civil War, right on Old Town Alexandria’s waterfront corridor.

Spanning a narrow brick building and an enclosed adjacent alley, the team was challenged with transforming the divided 9,400 square-foot-space into a unified, bright, and modern law office space with an open layout and an elegant boutique feel. ADA conformance and noise reduction were also major design objectives that were carefully observed throughout.

These were no easy tasks, and not just because of occasional visits from the building’s long line of ghostly tenants. Due to the strict preservation requirements and restrictions set by the Virginia Historical Society, the infrastructure of the edifice could not be altered, and many elements of the construction needed to be salvaged. By working in close collaboration with the landlord to ensure that all requirements were being met, our team combined elements both old and new, effectively creating a charmingly functional working space that pays homage to its rich and colorful past.

The result is a space that celebrates the historic and modern: exposed brick walls, reconditioned wood beams, columns, and flooring, as well as heavy black door framing harmoniously coexist with glass-front offices and an abundance of natural light including windows spanning two floors. Overall flow and accessibility were substantially improved by using existing windows and doorways to create connection points between buildings. A single, orienting staircase further connects the newly unified space. To control noise, offices were placed in building corners and facing paths of travel.

This project is a living testament to the merits of thoughtful planning and intelligent architectural design in the creation of timelessly unique spaces.

Clare Locke was awarded the 2017 NAIOP Design Award of Excellence.

Take a look at all of the current projects by DCS Design for more inspiration.

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