Workplace
SPARKS MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING
This 6,000 SF single story building is designed with both medical office suites and a pharmacy situated around a central lobby. The architecture responds and connects to the historic and rural context by matching the adjacent scale and using local building materials. Located adjacent to the Madison County Courthouse in London, Ohio, this pharmacy and medical office building is the first new building to be constructed in the downtown historic district in more than twenty years. This modern medical complex replaces an abandoned gas station that has been considered to be a blight in the downtown neighborhood for years.
STATE ARCHITECT’S OFFICE
WSA Studio was able to transform the Office of the State Architect over a ten year period, commencing in 1996 with the relocation of this agency to a renovated manufacturing facility on the city’s west side. In 2004, the firm was retained to “complete” the move with the addition of a new entry piece. The simple nature of this addition provides a cohesive point of entry to the previously completed, award winning renovation. The addition houses a waiting area and security checkpoint, using existing materials to accentuate the industrial nature of the building. The notion of entry from the main road is supported by the design of a vertical sign and its supporting structure. As part of this renovation, modifications were done to the existing south facade, providing natural light in the interior office spaces, as well as replacing some of the existing materials on the exterior of the building.
WSA STUDIO
Located on the outskirts of the thriving Brewery District, a once abandoned manufacturing facility has undergone a major transformation to be the new home of WSA Studio. Formerly home to the Columbus Jack Company, the architectural character and centralized urban location were significant factors in the decision to renovate. The building features exposed heavy timber ceilings, concrete and wood floors, large industrial windows, and exposed brick walls. The final product is a mixed use, sustainable facility which enriches this urban neighborhood through the infusion of a professional services firm. The Jack allows employees of WSA Studio to become a part of their urban neighborhood and should inspire creativity, attract talent and propel the firm towards a new century of design leadership.
GRANGE MUTUAL INSURANCE
This complex and challenging logistical project required a great deal of analysis and implementation leadership by the WSA Studio team. Positioned on the heels of a major shell expansion of the existing facility, this project focused on a comprehensive analysis of the overall space needs at the corporate office and the development of a stacking plan, master plans for growth, and a Program of Requirements. The project scope also included the development and oversight of a new branding roll-out, artwork installation, coordination of a complete adaptation of existing corporate workstation furniture as part of a new standardization program and the complete renovation of the existing building. Grange was able to consolidate employees previously located at three distinct locations throughout the city and dramatically improve departmental synergy and collaboration. Also, dramatic improvements were incorporated to support associate conferencing and team communication. All associates in a supervisory role were allocated a new workstation standard that includes a conference space, small four person “huddle” rooms were incorporated within the standard footprint of a workstation, and each department was allocated conferencing space on individual floors.
THE McGRAW-HILL COMPANIES
This project included programming, planning, interior design, and the architectural design of a 171,000 SF facility for two of the educational publishing divisions of The McGraw-Hill Companies. The building includes amenities such as a full-service café, a fitness center, and a conferencing center and is designed to accommodate growth. WSA Studio was also instrumental in the development and application of a parking program. The project focus included developing a master plan for departmental adjacencies and the adaptation of a set of established corporate standards to the needs of the local user group. The management of this complex client base was a unique challenge since the team included the McGraw-Hill Real Estate services division, the local owner’s representative, the local user groups, the construction manager and a large number of specialized consultants.
COMPUSERVE WORLD HEADQUARTERS
As an expansion campus for this international computer information service company, this facility has over 600,000 SF of building space on 75 acres of land. The facility accommodates a wide range of program activities, including open and closed office space, training classrooms, dining and food service, a fitness center, data center, and other general support service areas. The design engages a simple, yet bold, architectural expression in keeping with the corporation’s two other centers. The projects where delivered in an early version of Integrated Practice, with the design team working collaboratively with the construction manager, subcontractors and product specialists from the beginning of the design.