Virtus Investment Partners, Hartford, Conn.
RETROFIT TEAM
ARCHITECT OF RECORD: The S/L/A/M Collaborative
CONTRACTOR: Gilbane Building Co.
MEP ENGINEER: Van Zelm Engineers
MATERIALS
The following is a sampling of materials used in the renovation:
ACOUSTICAL WOOD PANELS: Decoustics
COUNTERTOPS: Caesarstone, Cambria and HanStone Quartz
ACOUSTIC WALL PANELS: Novawall
STOREFRONTS: Kawneer
GLASS: Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope
VINYL FLOORING: Shaw Contract and Armstrong Flooring Inc.
CARPET: Bentley Mills and Shaw Contract
ACOUSTICAL CEILINGS: Armstrong Ceiling & Wall Solutions and USG
WINDOW TREATMENT: SWFcontract
THE RETROFIT
Like many companies, Virtus Investment Partners’ previous workspace had become inefficient and outdated. Senior leadership wanted the new 65,000-square-foot headquarters to facilitate an increase in employee interaction through more open floor space and natural light, yet without compromising the need for privacy.
With nearly 40 percent of employees in private office spaces, the design team was challenged with providing a significant number of enclosed offices around the perimeter of the building without losing the benefits of natural light. A relocation to the iconic Gold Building, a glass building in the capital city, rendered a balanced solution.
The design team’s use of full-glass office fronts allows access to daylight and panoramic views for all employees, including those in the interior workstations. This option bucked today’s trend of doing away with enclosed offices, understanding that one size does not fit all when designing a 21st century workspace.
A new grand staircase connects the reception area on floor 26 to a spacious, well-appointed cafe on the 25th floor. Bright and comfortable, the café provides employees a central space in which to engage and host large communications sessions and casually interact. In addition to the open spaces, the introduction of huddle rooms accommodates informal business activities and interaction. An emphasis on employee wellness has shifted the culture to embrace sit-to-stand workstations for all staff, the use of a quiet room for privacy and staff kitchens on each floor.
PHOTOS: Ari Burling Photography