The Making of TEN30: Chapters 1-3

The outdoor amenity area provides employees with a space to work, rest, walk, or eat lunch while feeling connected to the surrounding natural area

creating a world-class corporate headquarters

By Nathan Daniel (Principal | Charlotte Office Leader) Paul Koska (Associate Principal | Architect) Philip Oliver (Associate Principal | Project Manager) When LS3P began working with the

At this stage the building envelope was

initial client in February of 2020, the

contracted from the schematic design

company was accustomed to fairly

documents, and design development

traditional office spaces, including a

continued apace.

standard commercial floor plate with dense clusters of work stations and a

ENVISIONING A WORKPLACE FOR

building template that could work for any

THE MODERN ERA

site. During the interview stage, however, LS3P and the client engaged in a “what if” conversation that began to turn the traditional workplace model on its head.

Using 11” x 17” foam core models that the interviewers could move around as they explored and asked questions, LS3P presented a modern concept, one that nestled into and connected with its site.

LS3P was hired quickly to spearhead the design, and the work began in earnest.

KNOWING WHEN TO PIVOT

In the ensuing months, as the design proceeded briskly, companies worldwide were navigating a foundational shift in how and where work gets done.

The client’s leadership and internal stakeholders such as the Human Resources team began to explore what an engaged, energetic staff expects in a modern workplace. The campus is 10 miles outside of Charlotte’s Uptown/ South End core; if employees are commuting to the office, what should they find when they arrive that inspires

The world changed rapidly between

innovation, supports collaboration, and

early February and late March of 2020

creates an exciting culture? The team

as teams transitioned to remote work.

realized the importance of intentional

On March 22, LS3P’s massing studies

incentivizes to draw people into the

presentation for the client on March

office as a means to build and sustain a

22 became the firm’s first virtual

vibrant company culture. The core and

presentation. The accelerated schedule

shell of the buildings was already set, but

never slowed, and the core and shell

it was clear that a pivot was in order for

design was largely complete by May 1.

the workplace concept inside.

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BUILDING IN FLEXIBILITY

EVOLVING WAYS OF WORKING

The design team shifted quickly,

This workplace transformation wasn’t

transforming the company’s traditional

just physical. In designing spaces to

floor plate into a new concept with nests

draw people into the office and make it

of neighborhoods and collaborative

worth their while to be there, employers

spaces. By re-orienting the design

are readjusting the narrative on how

off-grid to create opportunities for

employees work. The new paradigm

chance interactions, creative collisions,

combines both flexible work locations

active circulation, and collaboration,

and in-office collaboration, and free

the team created a much more flexible

address models which accommodate

work environment with a “living room”

more people without impacting the

atmosphere. The spaces are cohesive,

quality of the workplace. Unassigned

but look like they were designed by a

desking creates flexibility and fluidity

different hand for variety. The new plan

over the course of the workday or over

also reduces assigned seating by half,

the course of a project; this flexibility

shifting from a “plugged in workstation”

extends all the way to the C-Suite.

mindset to a “work anywhere on campus” mindset. The owners invested heavily in wireless technology and welldesigned outdoor workspaces so that employees can work from a seat in the central courtyard as seamlessly as at workstation inside. An array of campus amenities includes a food hall, top-ofthe-line fitness center, and onsite health clinic as well as greenways and outdoor

In the face of fast-moving challenges, the entire team remained committed to “doing the right thing, not the easy thing.”

The resulting campus marks a turning point in the nature of the workplace, laying the foundation for lasting benefits through innovation, inspiration, and collaboration.

workspaces.

I N D E S I G N I N G S PA C E S T O D R A W P E O P L E I N T O T H E O F F I C E A N D M A K E I T WO RTH TH E IR WH ILE TO BE TH E RE, E M PLOYE RS ARE RE ADJUSTING TH E N A R R AT I V E O N H O W E M P L O Y E E S W O R K .

A central atrium with cantilevered stair spans 9 stories, connecting the two wings of the building and providing atmospheric lighting through its skylight.

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the compound effect of good design: rethinking the workplace for health & wellness

By Nathan Daniel (Principal | Charlotte Office Leader) Paul Koska (Associate Principal | Architect) Patrick Cooley (Associate | Emerging Professional) When the TEN30 project kicked off in

for a monumental shift in the ways in

early 2020, the project plan did not

which people work, and the result is a

include a global pandemic. The fast-

workplace focused on wellness, beauty,

moving global crisis, however, did not

productivity, and community.

slow the project’s momentum.

ROOTING THE CAMPUS IN NATURE

In February of 2020, LS3P proposed a campus design strategy that would inform every decision to follow: to shift from the idea of a high-rise building on a leveled site that could be built anywhere, to a midrise design that would integrating with its forested site and weave the architecture into the environment. The client team embraced this direction, and in the ensuing months, this design decision created ripple effects supporting health, safety, and productivity, with profound positive impacts.

To describe COVID-19 as a “significant disruptor” is an understatement. The pandemic has humbled those who are most gifted at forecasting and predicting, and has shone a spotlight on systems that weren’t working. In overturning the status quo, however, the COVID-19 era has created opportunities for lasting change. The project laid the groundwork

The initial strategy of harmonizing with the 80-acre site led to compounding benefits. Because the design was driven by what the building needed to be, not the constraints of a high-rise footprint, the design team focused on blurring the lines between indoors and out. The constant interplay of nature and architecture creates calming views and allows abundant natural light in the interiors. The strong connection to the environment spills out into outdoor workspaces designed for seamless transitions from indoor desks to outdoor meeting room or café tables. These workspaces are intentional and programmable, from defined meeting spaces in the central courtyard to a tiered amphitheater under a dramatic cantilever.

The fully wireless campus allows movement, freedom, and the flexibility to select the right work station for the

right task. These outdoor workspaces

allowing autonomy and increasing the

allow employees to take advantage

odds of chance “creative collisions”

of Charlotte’s mild climate during the

with colleagues that build connection

workday, provide opportunities for

and make the work day enjoyable. The

informal interactions with people from

appealing stairs encourage physical

other departments, reduce density in

activity, and the escalators increase both

the interior spaces, and lower the risk

lateral and vertical connections between

of transmission for additional peace of

floors without crisscrossing.

mind. Access to nature is a key wellness benefit in any workplace; it is also

Beyond the perception of safety, which

vital for alleviating stress and allowing

is important to easing stress, the

employees to self-select a workspace

investment in alternative methods of

that works best for their needs.

circulation reduces the density in any given space while adding beauty and movement to the interiors. Twelve

RE-IMAGINING CIRCULATION

In a high-rise, one elevator core typically serves the entire building. In addition

additional escalators in the parking decks also help to streamline circulation and get people where they need to go,

to constraining the floor plates, this configuration requires people to share small spaces in transit to their work location and adds anxiety to the workday.

quickly and safely.

CREATING BREATHING ROOM

A midrise building, however, allows much

In a traditional office space, assigned

greater flexibility. The building’s floor

workstations are laid out for maximum

plate, influenced by the need to provide

efficiency, and employees are often

safer, more comfortable, more open

close together. Shared amenities such

circulation, has eight circulation cores

as coffee stations can quickly turn into

including 16 escalators and three open

pinch points, and close quarters are

stair zones. Employees can take a variety

less than ideal during a pandemic (or

of routes to get anywhere in the building,

the average flu season). The building’s

These outdoor workspaces allow employees to take advantage of Charlotte’s mild climate during the workday, provide opportunities for informal interactions with people from other departments, reduce density in the interior spaces, and lower the risk of transmission for additional peace of mind.

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REF. REF.

SCALE: 1/16” = 1’-0” COLLABORATION / CONFERENCING & SEMI-PRIVATE OFFICE HYBRID COLLABORATION

floor plate orients workstations off-

the space or on the fringes yet still

grid, allowing a much greater variety

connected to the activity.

of configurations. Workstations are arranged randomly or in pinwheels, so ENLARGED SOUTH FURNITURE PLAN

The designated seating for the first

no two employees are directly facing

phase of the campus is 1,800 people;

each other at their desks. The free-

however, the free-address strategy,

address model also allows employees

fully wired campus, and abundance

to self-select workstations based on

of dedicated outdoor work stations

the day’s tasks, allowing for flexibility

combine to create a multiplier of 1.6-

to accommodate a range of space

greatly expanding campus capacity and

needs and comfort levels. With new

maintaining a comfortable density in the

construction, the team was able to

building.

advocate for 10’ ceiling heights; the spaces feel expansive and airy while

RETHINKING THE PRIVATE OFFICE

allowing maximum adaptability over

The traditional workplace model used

time. Exposed structure and open ceiling volumes make the workspaces feel brighter, more open, and better ventilated.

The design also incorporates a break room in every wing – two per floor – with prime forest views. The break rooms are specifically designed to allow ease of movement around double sets of appliances centered on large islands to minimize congestion. Break room seating is located away from the circulation, with options to be within

to be heavily weighted towards private offices. In exploring a new workplace dynamic focused on free-addressing, open workstations, and indoor/outdoor locations, the design nearly eliminates private offices on the Charlotte campus.

Though a few assigned management zones and bullpens are still required, less than 10% of the office space in the new campus is assigned. Enclosed offices still exist, and employees can check into these when heads-down focus work or privacy is required; however, when

unclaimed for the day, these offices can

and the building’s productivity and

be used as huddle rooms, shareable

collaboration zones feel as safe and as

collaborative areas, or spaces to join a

comfortable as a home office or a local

virtual meeting without disturbing others.

coffee shop.

Eliminating assigned private offices effectively increases meeting space on

Food is another key attraction. The

the campus tenfold at no additional cost.

design upends the traditional corporate cafeteria with a multi-volume space

Campus-wide technology tools make

– elevating the idea of a food hall –

this system seamless and transparent;

that serves as a gateway through the

employees can check in at any location

campus. All three sides are connected

so their colleagues can see where people

to nature and outdoor terraces, and the

are working for the day. This amenity is

strategic location in a primary foot traffic

a huge selling point for talented young

zone tempts people to move through

tech employees who are accustomed

the atrium and food hall to the outdoors.

to mobility and digital connections.

Seven unique food offerings within

The ability to dial into a meeting

the expansive space offer something

from anywhere on campus is further

for everyone, with multiple indoor and

supported by the client’s investment in

outdoor seating options so that people

state-of-the-art technology and a fully

can select their level of distance, gather

wireless campus.

with colleagues, or linger at a patio table for focus work over a cup of coffee.

PROVIDING CREATURE COMFORTS

Beyond the ability to choose the right workplace for the right task, the owners also wanted employees to be able to feel as safe and as comfortable at the office as in their living rooms. An enticing array of furniture options can help employees create a place within the office where they feel productive, secure, and professional – and may represent a real upgrade from the couch or the Zoom background at home. The furniture selections offer options scaled to every employee, from couches to casual lounge areas to laptop zones. Not every employee has an ideal home workspace,

FOCUSING ON A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO WELLNESS

With its focus on medical insurance, the client was committed to designing for wellness in its work environment from the outset through WELL Certification for the entire campus. This decision required operational shifts like re-writing the employee handbook in addition to design considerations, but the resulting workplace will yield substantial benefits in terms of attracting, retaining, and caring for the top-tier talent that allows the company to thrive. The client also decided to invest in certifying the

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entire campus, not just the building;

DESIGNING FOR RESILIENCE

the added levels of complexity which

Navigating complex decisions about

come with making sure everything from the guard houses to the mail room support campus wellness reflects the commitment to doing things the right way, not the easy way, at every turn.

Wellness is multifaceted, and encompasses physical health, mental health, and peace of mind. The design features and operational strategies that support these elements include everything from indoor air quality to the onsite early childhood development center so that parents can feel confident that their children are secure and close during the workday. Beauty, too, matters; two spectacular art installations anchor the campus and provide meditative focal points. One nine-story art piece in the atrium is based on an equation representing how leaves grow, appropriate to this “tree house” setting.

The second is a kinetic sculpture that wraps the second-story café volume, representing subtle movement in nature.

Both pieces celebrate nature-based themes in a way that will offer new perspectives through the life of the building, and provide opportunities for visual release and reflection within a busy workday.

the future of work in an ever-changing environment has required open mindedness, trust, research, and continuous communication. Fortunately, from the beginning of the design process, one thing has remained clear: good design yields benefits that far outlast any particular era, event, or trend. In creating a flexible, adaptable, beautiful campus which is rooted in nature and focused on providing a stellar workplace for all employees, the client has created a place that will endure.

The high ceilings, agile floor plates, and demountable walls can be easily reconfigured to reflect future growth or changes in use; furthermore, every inch of the building - because it is designed for wellness – makes its employees safer, more comfortable, and more productive. Every element of the design serves more than one purpose; the things that make it healthier also make it more beautiful, and the things that make it beautiful also make it more efficient and productive.

Good design with good intent is always a wise investment; the accumulating benefits of each smart decision amplify the overarching goal to create an employee-focused workplace campus supporting flexibility, wellness, and collaboration.

The design also incorporates a break room in every wing – two per floor – with prime forest views. The break rooms are specifically designed to allow ease of movement around double sets of appliances centered on large islands to minimize congestion. Break room seating is located away from the circulation, with options to be within the space or on the fringes yet still connected to the activity.

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designing to adapt to nature

By Nathan Daniel (Principal | Charlotte Office Leader) Paul Koska (Associate Principal | Architect) Philip Oliver (Associate Principal | Project Manager) This campus is, in a word, big. A million

the hillside. The incredibly complex

square feet of construction, in fact, on

three-dimensional footprint fits into the

an 80-acre site. The original plan for

landscape with near surgical precision.

the project was to replicate a basic design prototype with buildings sitting

The commitment to working in harmony

atop a leveled plane, but steeply sloped,

with the nature of the site extended

heavily forested terrain offered more

into all decisions moving forward from

exciting possibilities. Working with

the master plan: materials selection,

the land instead of on top of it offered

interior design, work environments,

unparalleled opportunities to interact

and amenities. The materials were

with the landscape and create a campus

informed and inspired by the existing

rooted in nature.

natural context of forest, rocks, streams, earth, and sky. The exterior materials

As early as the interview stage, the

palette was determined early in the core

team engaged in deep discussions

and shell design process, and the skin

about how to conform the buildings

was designed around a gradation of

to the land instead of conforming the

transparency analogous to filtered light

land to the buildings. Integrating the

through a tree canopy. The filigreed skin

buildings and site with the least possible

features phenolic panels with a wood

impact became a key goal; the resulting

grain finish to resonate with the site, and

design nestles the campus into the

the wood grain repeats on the curtain

forest with buildings cascading down

wall, soffits,

Bright and airy cafeteria with ample seating and areas for spontaneous collaboration.

and mullions. The exposed board-form

scattered throughout the campus,

concrete also carries a wood grain

including three large, landscaped

texture. The team selected the clearest

terraces, function the same way as the

glass available to maximize visual

workstations inside. The investment

connection between the workspaces and

in technology and design coordination

the forest. Ultimately, the materials that

helps to further blur the lines between

form the building exterior are remarkably

indoors and outdoors, allowing

similar to the texture of the natural

employees myriad options for work

elements found onsite.

locations throughout the day.

The interiors, likewise, were guided by

The design of the vast site also drew

the site, drawing from the concept of a

from the existing natural elements:

tree house. The clustered workspaces

three intermittent creeks, vegetation,

are nests within a network of branches,

trees, and rocks. Preserving trees was a

serving as focal elements around

key priority, but the site provided plenty

which circulation flows. The movement

of opportunities to interact with the

through the space is fluid, with open

environment. A campus greenway with

escalators encouraging interaction and

three “mobility hubs” encourages activity

visual connection. Cantilevered meeting

and provides a place for employees to

spaces perched at the corners offer

recharge. Water elements throughout the

expansive views of the forest beyond,

site provide visual interest and calming

preserved to the greatest extent possible

interludes in the site circulation.

to maintain the site’s ecology and habitat.

The campus design inverts the traditional corporate office paradigm, too

The commitment to forging authentic

often notable for a sense of “placeless

connections with the natural

space,” into a campus that grows from

environment went hand in hand with

its environment. Buildings and landscape

the new ways of thinking about work

take equal precedence, working in

that were emerging in tandem with

harmony to deliver a unique workplace

the design. The completely wireless

with a wellness-oriented culture. The

workplace- unusual for a campus of this

campus is inseparable from its site, and

size- provides maximum flexibility for

the site is woven through every design.

its employees. The outdoor workspaces

“WORKING WITH THE LAND INSTEAD OF ON TOP OF IT OFFERED U N PA R A L L E L E D O P P O R T U N I T I E S T O I N T E R A C T W I T H T H E L A N D S C A P E A N D C R E AT E A C A M P U S R O OT E D I N N AT U R E .”

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