Case Study: Arlington County Courthouse

BUILDING ON

•2023

CASE STUDY

1 9 7 3

ARLINGTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE

SIZE 235,000 SF within 10 floors (1,006 employees)

LOCATION Arlington, VA COMPLETION 2017

PROJECT DESCRIPTION DBI and The Clearing teamed to provide Arlington County with a utilization study and business process analysis of the County’s current and projected use of the Courthouse Plaza. The goal was to inform the planning and design of the building’s administrative offices, conference rooms, wellness clinic, and customer service areas. The resulting document also compiled workplace recommendations for the County to implement as it embraced a more flexible workplace. CHP’s workplace recommendations were developed through two complementary data-collecting initiatives: (1) gathering employee feedback, and (2) conducting a utilization study. The team also conducted a time-delimited observation study: during a two-week period, the group observed and collected data capturing how each space on every floor was used. Then, the team, projecting staff growth through 2032, developed four planning scenarios. A workspace guidelines report was created, compiling the County’s executive vision and project goals, existing conditions, research findings, and future workplace recommendations for formal use in space planning.

Arlington Courthouse Plaza Interior Renovation

CHALLENGE In 2017, Arlington County requested support from DBI Architects and The Clearing in providing change management services to plan for its forthcoming renovation of the Arlington County Courthouse Plaza (CHP) (now Bozman Government Center) building, which houses over 1,000 Arlington County employees and serves over 226,000 county residents and numerous businesses.

This project was complicated by a major reduction in budget, pandemic-related delays, and shifts in leadership.

RESULTS ▶ Clarified a shared vision among senior Arlington County leaders for the future of Arlington County workplace ▶ Increased cooperation and coordination in project planning and communication efforts across stakeholder groups, including senior leaders and managers across 12 departments and multiple commissions ▶ Clear workforce and stakeholder communication and engagement plan around renovation project progress and next steps to continue to build adoption around the project ▶ Informed workforce who knew the impact of the renovation, how their feedback and perspectives were considered in decision-making, and how to work successfully in the new work environment post-renovation ▶ Early implementation of feedback mechanisms and information sharing tools and products to build greater awareness of the project process and build workforce enrollment

PLANNING SCENARIO - OPTION 3 DOUBLE-OCCUPANCY MANAGER OFFICES, IDEAL RATIOS OF MEETING SPACE Space Type Floor PRIVATE OFFICES Executive Shared Manager Office - 2 Person Office (Total of 262 Managers) Current Executives in Offices Current Managers in Offices Current Staff in Offices WORKSTATIONS Manager Workstation - 6x7 Staff Workstation - 6x7 Staff Bench-Style Workstation - 6x5 Current Managers in Workstations Current Staff in Workstations MEETING SPACE Large Conference Room - 20-26 seats (Commission Mtgs) Large Conference Room - 12-16 seats (Ratio of 1:225) Medium Conference Room - 8-10 seats (Ratio of 1:120) Huddle Room - 4-6 seats (Ratio of 1:40) Focus Rooms - 1-3 seats (Ratio of 1:20) Phone Booth - 1-2 seats (Ratio of 1:20) Medium Open Collaboration Area - 4-6 seats Small Open Collaboration Area - 1-3 seats Break Out Space - 20 seats Training Room - 12 seats Multi-Purpose Room - 60 seats CHP-Azalea Conference Room - 16 seats 1st Floor CHP-Cherry Conference Room - 16 seats 1st Floor CHP-Dogwood Conference Room - 10 seats 1st Floor CHP-Birch 106 - 10 seats 1st Floor CHP-300K - 10 seats 3rd Floor CHP-311 (Shared-COB/COM/REG) - 40 seats 3rd Floor Existing Conference and Meeting Rooms All SUPPORT SPACE Customer Counter / Reception Cafe / Breakroom Lateral Files and Lockers Storage / Workrooms / Plotters Mom Room Gender Neutral Restroom Network Rooms EXISTING SUPPORT SPACE All SPECIAL SPACE Library / Café 1st Floor Information/Security Counter 1st Floor 2nd Floor Counters / Customer Care / Waiting 2nd Floor Vault 2nd Floor Atrium Seating Areas 2nd Floor Board Room & Lobby Area 3rd Floor Election Storage 3rd Floor Voter Registration Counter / Waiting 3rd Floor Voting Machine Room 3rd Floor Channel 74 - Green Room 4th Floor Channel 74 - Studio 4th Floor Channel 74 - Studio Control Rooms 4th Floor Print Shop Health Clinic NOC - Network Operations Center 6th Floor Fitness Studio Traffic Management Center 9th Floor Building Permit Customer Service Area Customer Service Seating - Zoning Area Expeditor Area Building Permit Customer Care Center Building Permit Consultation Room Permit Drawing Storage Miscellaneous Allowance for Unknown Requirements

22%

Existing - 2017 Future 2032

10%

Space Standard

==== ==== 20 121 73

==== ==== 4,025 17,403 8,385

20 131 ==== ==== ====

3,000 9,825 ==== ==== ====

42 42 30

==== ==== ==== 74 718

==== ==== ==== 5,727 46,727

0 852 212 ==== ====

0 35,784 6,360 ==== ====

550 375 200 175 90 30 140 90 300 660 1200 486 406 302 284 379 784

==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== 1 1 1 1 1 1 ====

==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== 486 406 302 284 379 784 9,660

7 6 12 34 67 67 32 32 8 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ====

3,850 2,250 2,400 5,950 6,030 2,010 4,480 2,880 2,400 1,320 1,200 486 406 302 284 379 784 ====

425 525 300 1000 56 50

==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ====

==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== 1,648 20,176

8 9 9 9 9 10 ==== ====

3,600 4,725 2,700 9,000 504 500 1,648 ====

==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ====

1,734 181 1,780 103 480 3,668 77 176 137 146 515 435 932 1,030 2,686 1,429 307 1,520 225 290 150 150 350 ====

==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ====

1,734 181 1,780 103 480 3,668 150 176 275 146 515 435 932 1,030 2,686 1,429 307 1,520 225 290 150 150 350 881

39%

Workstations

Future 2032 Program Total Footprint Total Units Space

150 150

16%

14%

28%

17%

15%

Meeting Space

Support Space

31%

Offices

Existing 2017 Program Total Footprint Total Units Space

TOTAL PERSONNEL IN OFFICES TOTAL PERSONNEL IN WORKSTATIONS TOTAL PERSONNEL

9%

Existing 2017 Program Total Footprint Total Units Space 214 29,813 792 52,454 1,006

Special Space

Future 2032 Program Total Footprint Total Units Space 151 12,825 1,064 42,144 1,346

TOTAL MEETING SPACE SF TOTAL SUPPORT SPACE SF TOTAL SPECIAL SPACE SF

12,301 21,824 18,501

37,411 22,677 19,593

CIRCULATION MULTIPLIER CIRCULATION SF

1.4699 67,083

1.5000 67,325

PROJECTED BUILDING TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE ACTUAL BUILDING TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE

201,976 201,976

201,976 201,976

Arlington Courthouse Workplace Guidelines Report

95

RELEVANCE Over the course of this 6+ year project, the team engaged the government staff and citizens of Arlington County in a variety of avenues, including surveys, focus groups, and open house events. The data and insights gathered from these engagements informed the change management process to increase cooperation and buy-in from both groups.

In the early stages of the project, The Clearing Team partnered with DBI Architects to gather data on the current state of space use and space needs and requirements.

Through this data gathering and analysis, the team identified challenges and opportunities surrounding the renovation as well as defined the vision for the renovation project. Armed with this information, The Clearing designed and executed change and communication strategies to increase space adoption post-renovation and ensure the effective use of renovated space.

EXPLORE / CREATE / TRANSFORM

1984 ISAAC NEWTON SQUARE WEST, SUITE 400 RESTON, VA 20190 703.787.0882

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