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CMTA is Kentucky’s largest MEP (mechanical, engineering, and plumbing) consulting firm, with a reputation built around its research and data-driven design. It has experienced tremendous growth over a five-year period, including creating a new performance contracting division in Louisville, Kentucky. As their business evolved, they knew it was time for a new office building for its Energy Solutions division, and we were thrilled they asked us to partner in bringing its vision to life—to incorporate its core values and culture into its workplace.
The design focus went beyond high-performance design techniques, desiring a more flexible and open work setting that efficiently utilized the available square footage and facilitated team interaction and collaboration. In alignment with their firm-wide commitment to sustainability and employee well-being, CMTA wanted to achieve WELL certification, as defined by the International WELL Building Institute’s design standards.
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The new workplace for the Energy Solutions group is located in a first-floor suite of a newly constructed office building, which features extensive north-facing windows that provide abundant natural light. However, two rows of closely spaced structural columns interrupted the simple rectangular footprint, blocking natural light from reaching the entire footprint of the shell space, and making areas feel more closed off. We positioned private offices down the center of the suite. The dimensions of the offices aligned with the double row of columns, allowing us to conceal most of the columns unobtrusively. By locating enclosed offices in the center and open workstations along the perimeter, artificial lighting is unnecessary on most days.
The second key design concept was implementing workstation “neighborhoods.” Each neighborhood features one workstation in each quadrant, a central worktable, and extra work surfaces for part-time team members – an arrangement that supports the firm’s typical project team configuration. Low partitions enclose each neighborhood, offering occupants privacy while seated and uninterrupted sight lines when standing. The partitions are capped with custom storage cabinets constructed of reclaimed hickory.
The terminology and concepts developed by sociologist Ray Oldenburg inspired the third key concept: introducing "third spaces" that facilitate both planned and spontaneous interaction. These areas are prominent in the overall design and include formal meeting spaces, copier and printer zones, office supply storage, and smaller team rooms. We designed these areas to bring people together and to feel a sense of belonging through gathering.
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