The Challenge
As pandemic-induced restrictions began to lift, Newmark sought to consolidate its Dallas-Fort Worth offices into a single location in Uptown Dallas to improve and elevate the employee experience. To help show Newark what the Future of Work could be, the HKS design team was challenged to create a space where a new culture could be born and nurtured by uniting different groups in a single, highly collaborative and client-facing office.
The Design Solution
The HKS design team integrated end user feedback before construction began by presenting the project company-wide to future users to assist management efforts. In addition, the team used HKS’ Future of Work research to inform much of the planning of spaces.
Newmark also wanted to incorporate a Wellness program by providing wellness room / focus rooms, and connection to the surrounding areas near the building. The Link was specifically chosen as the location for this project because it provides easy access to all commuters by car or public transit. The building is in a walkable part of Uptown where biking and walking throughout the day is commonplace. In planning the layout of the floorplan, we used intuitive wayfinding to make it easy for employees and visitors to find their way around and understand when they are transitioning from a communal open space to a more focused working environment.
Additionally, there are multiple locations throughout the office with access to water and nutritional snacks. A requirement of the program called for many private offices to be located on the exterior walls of the building, however all private offices and meeting rooms have glass storefronts, allowing natural light and connecting views to the outdoors to spill farther into the space, giving access to all employees. The HKS team was also strategic in locating smaller open collaboration areas in the building with direct views to downtown Dallas and other city landmarks.
Because The Link is a first-generation space, meaning that no one had occupied the space previously, this created a unique opportunity to utilize and highlight the existing structure on ceilings and flooring pathways. It also reduced resource use and showcases the space’s architecture in an elegant way. Additionally, the HKS team specified materials and vendors with a transparency and commitment to sustainability measures.
The Design Impact
At a time when the physical workplace and returning to the office was in question, the HKS design team’s approach was highly collaborative, based in research, and backed by a thorough discovery process that consisted of multiple interviews and visioning sessions. The goal was to foster a vibrant culture that would speak to Newmark’s brand and values, by presenting to both its employees and clients with a high-performance space that welcomes all and is a catalyst for change.
