Strawberry Point

Smith & Hawken Corporate Office

This project involved the adaptive re-use of an abandoned elementary school. The challenge was to transform a typical double loaded corridor school building into a light, airy office environment for a well-known mail order company. This environmentally aware and responsible company, founded by Paul Hawken, specializes in gardening supplied as well as outdoor furniture and sculpture. Working closely with the client, regenerative materials such as recycled redwood from old wine barrels, and non-toxic milk paints were used to provide a cleaner, healthier environment for employees. Other materials such as flooring and wall coverings were chosen for their recycled content. Also, the utilization of natural light and ventilation was critical in the development of the design. The scheme involved the opening of the central corridor with skylights to bring an abundance of natural light and creating a series of central atriums. The classrooms became different office nodes all connected with one another as well as with the atriums. The office layout within each area was created with the use of a custom Syndecrete workstation specifically designed for the various office functions. The project illustrates the successful mix of adaptive re-use and an efficient and desirable office environment.