The renovation of an existing workspace can be a challenge for any design team, especially when faced with transforming a dark, outdated environment into a desirable, bright, connected new workspace for a changing organizational demographic.
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.
