395 Pagemill Road, Palo Alto, California, United States
Studio O+A
Post By:Kitticoon Poopong
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
AOL launched a company-wide initiative to adapt to changes in online culture – which the company had been instrumental in creating in the first place. As part of this effort,
AOL moved its
West Coast headquarters to a new corporate space in Palo Alto and brought in Studio O+A to give the office a fresh design.
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
The existing space retained a distinctly 1980s corporate aesthetic: drop ceilings hanging over every office, high cubicles separating employees into tightly defined workstations, dark finishes, and oblique lines. O+A restored the space to a clean, white canvas – exposing the ceilings, stripping the walls to reveal the structure, and generally creating a spatial equivalent to the transparency that AOL was bringing to every aspect of its business.
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
Key to this approach is the concept of “honest materiality” – the embrace of materials and processes that originate in the construction industry and that increasingly provide the finish motifs for modern workplace design. At AOL, for example, oriented strand board (OSB), typically used by contractors to separate spaces on construction sites, was sanded, shaped, and finished to serve as a contemporary accent throughout the complex. Exposed ceilings, concrete floors, expansive sightlines, and modern furniture all contribute to the industrial look. The result is a space that communicates what it is made of and how it was built.
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
In keeping with this theme of transparency, O+A’s floor plan emphasizes collaborative space – a change from segregated private offices to open workstations and the collegiality of shared environments. Two features of the AOL design highlight this concept. The first is a series of circular pods positioned throughout the main work areas as impromptu meeting rooms. Constructed of OSB and translucent fiberglass, these cozy silos provide a space for informal collaboration and spontaneous creativity. To encourage that spontaneity, the pods are open to all employees and cannot be reserved.
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
An even more prominent feature is the large, bright, collaborative space AOL has dubbed the Town Hall. Part kitchen, part play space, part kick-back area, the Town Hall also functions as an all-hands common area (Ariana Huffington spoke there when AOL acquired the Huffington Post), modeled after late-night eateries in San Francisco’s Mission District. The kitchen’s bench-seating, ample light, and bursts of color against a white palette go well with the game and relaxation area. Centrally located to bring together staff from departments that might not otherwise interact, the Town Hall is designed to foster the kind of creative cross-pollination for which tech companies like AOL are renowned.
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
And then there are graphics. AOL’s new logo – the company’s initials in a simple white font – can be placed effectively on any colorful background. Those playful backgrounds vary throughout the headquarters and include both abstract patterns and imagery drawn from nature and pop culture. All wall coverings in the space are custom designed.
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
The design embodies the elements of the new AOL – transparency, collaboration, creativity, and playfulness – to create a stimulating environment for the firm’s staff.
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Jasper Sanidad |
Project Team: Primo Orpilla, Albert Claxton, Alfred Socias, Perry Stephney, Elizabeth Boze, Denise Cherry, Alexander Ng
Client: AOL
Contractor: NOVO Construction
Photographer: Jasper Sanidad
Phase 1: January 2011
Phase 2: April 2011
Gross square footage: Floor: 73,024 sq. ft., Building: 219,377 sq. ft.
The Products
CARPET: BENTLEY PRINCE STREET, CONSTANTINE CARPET, FLOR, SHAW CONTRACT GROUP
WALL TREATMENT: SHERWIN WILLIAMS, ICI PAINTS, MDC WALLCOVERINGS, BENJAMIN MOORE
RUBBER BASE: ALLSTATE
GLASS: JOEL BERMAN GLASS STUDIOS, LTD
FURNITURE: POD OFFICE
COUNTERTOP: DEVINCENZI ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTS INC, CAESARSTONE
TILE: DALTILE
LAMINATE: ABET LAMINATI
OTHER: Oriented Strand Board, Reclaimed Douglas Fir, Corrugated Fiberglass
Software used: AutoCAD, Illustrator, 3D StudioMax
Note>>Location in this map, It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
Related Books
