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A Miesian Headquarters for Ellerbe Becket

The second-story space, formerly home to IBM, was designed in-house by the office's interiors and architecture team.

Nicholas Tamarin -- Interior Design, 4/30/2008 12:00:00 AM

What better bragging rights for a design firm than moving its headquarters into a Mies van der Rohe-designed building?

The boasting you hear comes from Ellerbe Becket, the Kansas City-based architecture, engineering and interiors firm, which recently took occupancy of a second-story space near the city’s historic Washington Park in a building originally designed by the legendary architect.

But the legend's shadow didn’t intimidate the firm’s designers and architects from putting their own stamp on the Grand Avenue space, which formerly served as offices for IBM. The team used boldly colored walls and alternating floor finishes to distinguish private spaces, where meeting areas are framed with detailed wall profiles and soffits, from public spaces, which include a gallery space for large gatherings and exhibits by local artists.

As a result of the German master's signature floor-to-ceiling glass walls, the office offers panoramic vistas of the city. So, the perimeter of the space was designed as the primary access path through the offices to exploit the view. In production areas, low-height partitions and a shared table spanning the width of the office take advantage of the natural light created by the windows.

From top: The entrance to Ellerbe Becket's new Kansas City headquarters. Low partitions maintain openess and light.

Images courtesy of Ellerbe Becket