Strata Oncology is a cutting-edge pharmacogenomics firm, which as a result of a planned growth of their team, needed to more than double their office space and provide an impressive space for visiting investors. The main conference room features an illuminated vinyl ceiling with integrated teleconferencing solutions, while the wood-lined team room on the opposite side of the kitchenette is deliberately devoid of tech to promote conversation and brainstorming. The kitchenette and restrooms complete the public areas, each featuring a coordinated palette of on-brand colors, along with thoughtful detailing and uncomprimising functionality.
The reception area offers warm wood tones, contrasting the cool greys of the remainder of the space. Adjacent is the main boardroom, which can be made as transparent or enclosed as any given meeting calls for.
Automatic rollers shades were integrated into the lighting controls in this room, allowing users to easily select a more private scene when presenting confidential or sensitive information.
The A/V vendor for this project was one I’d worked with on a small handful of past projects, and he never failed to impress. A/V can be a field in which past solutions get recycled because they worked well enough, but this consultant rejected that mindset. The conference microphones integrated into the ceiling are minimally invasive, but even better, he opted for a robust, ubiquitous solution in the form of mini-XLR connectors, which are surprisingly not the default choice when it comes to these types of installations. Nothing makes me happier than a future-proof solution, and a well-established standard like XLR or mini-XLR making it’s way from professional audio into a workplace environment offers infinite possibilities when the time comes to upgrade.
The boulevard between the more public-facing areas and the workstation wing of the space was designed as a place to get away from your desk, or stop and chat with a coworker. The accent tile at the standing-height countertop evokes the double-helix motif found across Strata’s branding materials, and the countertop itself features inlays of a solid surface material to add interest.
The kitchenette receives more daylight than any other space in the office, and is located centrally to encourage employees to congregate there. A back-painted glass backsplash offers maximum cleanability, while adding a touch of depth to the space through it’s reflection, and the sole pop of an on-brand color. A quick aside here, the woven vinyl flooring used in this space is one of my favorite products. In my experience, it performs incredibly in settings where spills are frequent, and I’m so glad that it’s starting to gain more traction in the world of commercial flooring.
At the opposite end of the kitchenette, the “clubhouse” serves as an informal meeting room. It’s adjacency to the kitchenette, combined with an overhead door, allows it to serve as both overflow seating and for large meetings to spill out into the kitchenette area.
A small number of private offices occupy the space adjacent to the clubhouse, offering more of a buffer between the louder kitchenette area and the open offices beyond.
The CEO of Strata isn’t an overly flashy person, or preoccupied with appearances. He did however need a space in which he could have conversational meetings with both the company’s leadership and potential partners. His corner office provides just that, offering ample daylight and a comfortable amount of multi-modal seating.
And finally, the part of this job that I was sure would be the first to be cut, the restrooms. I’m personally a believer that a full-height door and a simple wall tile can completely transform a guest’s impressions of a restroom. Some mechanical rework at the 11th hour threatened to lower the ceiling heights of both restrooms, but I went back to the drawing board and fought for every inch of ceiling height we could possibly maintain, and I think the results were well worth the effort.