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Planning Center Online Headquarters

At World-Architects.com, we are interested in the evolving nature of the workplace, especially in terms of technology's influence. Both the location of work and the design of its setting are changing as service-sector work relies increasingly on portable computing and wireless communications. A good example of shaping a space for this demographic is The Art Office's fit out of a generic tilt-up building between Los Angeles and San Deigo for Planning Center Online, a growing tech company. The architects sent us some text about the project, which creates a series of relaxed spaces for a variety of individual and team working conditions.

Entry passage

The new space facilitates the relocation of a growing and creative software tech company with a dynamic and casual work method. Walking through a graphically and spatially bold entry passage, one connects directly into the workplace, an open, relaxed space with fluid group desks, comfortable lounge seating, strong colors and team meeting volumes clad with oriented strand board and floor-ceiling glass.

Looking down the "spine" from entry passage

A concrete-floored walkway “spine” connects the rhythmic wall of offices along the edge of the workspace, and is frequently animated by scooter, skateboard, and bicycle traffic, and occasionally even the site of beanbag and Frisbee tosses. The building interior is kept whole, ordered lengthwise by a bar of enclosed offices, webcast and phone rooms, and bathrooms, leaving the bulk of space a series of flexible subspaces that are equally comfortable for individual programming and small team collaborations.

One of the team rooms in the open space

No printers, no copiers, no servers, no paper filing, no assigned cubicles, no time clock; work happens wirelessly anywhere throughout the building. Custom-designed desks provide shared, adaptable, unassigned, wireless and paperless work space for individual or small-group programming. Team rooms host collective efforts while loosely breaking up the workspace. Loose lounge seating and work-bar counters give employees options to create comfortably and to enjoy broad views to the adjacent canyon descending to the Pacific.

One of the &quot;flexible subspaces&quot;

One of the "flexible subspaces"

A lounge area

Floor plan

Planning Center Online Headquarters
2011
Carlsbad, CA

Client
Planning Center Online

Architect
The Art Office
Indio, CA

Design Team
Phillip K. Smith, III
Burzeen Contractor
Peter Blackburn

Mechanical
Neil Lotz, NPL Mechanical

Electrical
Philip Pizzo, Liberty Electrical Services

Plumbing
Kevin Drum, Drum Plumbing

Custom Furnishings
Patrick Trimm Woodworking

Construction
Pacific Construction Company

Lighting
David Trubridge, Moooi, George Nelson/Modernica, Artemide, Niche Modern, Foscarini, Tech, Lightolier, LoveItLighting, Philips Ecomoods, Vantage, Deco

Furniture
BluDot, Herman Miller, 3form, CB2, Plushpod, Sumolounge, Ikea

Building Area
7,500 sf

Photos
David Blank

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