Confidential Creative Office
Inspired by Oregon’s Forest Park and its network of hiking trails, this three-story office reflects Portland’s eclectic energy and spirit of exploration. Circulation paths throughout the workplace converge into multi-purpose “campgrounds”—shared destinations where teams gather, collaborate, and recharge. The design integrates Portland’s natural landscape into the interior through biophilic strategies and a variety of work settings that prioritize freedom of choice.
The overarching goal was to create a workplace that blends sustainable design, regional identity, and a sense of discovery. From daylight optimization to material selection, every design decision was guided by a desire to minimize environmental impact while maximizing user experience. Pathways, collaborative nodes, and moments of cultural storytelling are embedded throughout the plan, encouraging movement and exploration and allowing the building itself to become a tool for engagement.
The workplace fosters a biophilic environment by maximizing daylight, visual connections to the outdoors, and the use of natural materials. Large windows and clerestories bring sunlight deep into the interior, while flexible campgrounds and open circulation encourage movement, interaction, and choice.
Site-specific graphics, locally sourced wood finishes, and custom murals celebrating Portland’s cycling and hiking communities—along with modular dividers featuring native Oregon wildlife—embed layers of civic storytelling throughout the office, reinforcing a strong connection to place while supporting well-being.
Sustainability strategies were integrated holistically: occupancy sensors optimize lighting energy use, water-efficient fixtures reduce waste, and all finishes and furniture were chosen for local sourcing, recyclability, and certified sustainability. These interventions reinforce Portland’s values, while the layered biophilic design and cultural graphics connect occupants to both nature and community at every turn.
The design for the engineering and lab spaces was shaped through a collaborative visioning process rooted in Portland’s eclectic identity. Early workshops asked users to interpret what “Keep Portland Weird” meant to them, informing a layered storytelling approach expressed through custom environmental graphics and site-specific art. Each graphic element—from murals to wayfinding—was informed by research into the city’s social, cultural, and ecological context, reinforcing a strong sense of place throughout the workplace.
To ensure design intent was clearly communicated, annotated 3D views and detailed graphic packages were embedded within the project documentation, allowing the renovation itself to function as a tool for discovery, engagement, and efficient collaboration.
Close coordination with the general contractor enabled early identification of schedule and scope impacts, supporting informed decision-making throughout construction. In response to client demands, the third floor was delivered on an accelerated timeline, allowing partial occupancy ahead of the full project completion. Special construction measures were implemented to maintain uninterrupted operations for occupied tenants, ensuring continuity without compromising safety or design quality.
Project Team
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