Program: More than 650 workstations for this creative advertising agency are divided among several departments: accounts, corporate, creative, digital interactive, executive, media, and production. The spaces include open office space, pitch rooms, conference rooms, meeting spaces, open interactive spaces, ideation, print copy, and common areas.
Design: McIntosh Poris Associates developed a scheme designed to promote spontaneous interaction among departments—collisions of collaboration—that both foster creative collaboration as well as independent work. The office, set in a former Hudson’s Department Store warehouse facility, is designed to reflect Campbell Ewald’s identity, values, and character. Given the nature of the building, the design is also meant to enlarge definitions of workspace, mixing old and new as well as industrial and modern.
The design exposes the existing structure with an industrial palette of concrete, and steel, with wood for warmth and color. The design offers a simple, cost-effective solution resulting in an active, collaborative environment. Strategic planning of the work environment allows flexibility to remain current with evolving technology and working relationships.
The lobby-level atrium was designed as the social hub of the workplace. Landscape seating, plantings, coffee bar, and bleachers were designed to view activity in the offices and meeting rooms above. Large existing windows and newly created skylights create a glow in this wonderful space for both large and small gatherings.
Designed objects—termed “break-up” spaces—for informal meetings were deployed throughout the floor plan, both defining focused work zones and providing outlets for impromptu meetings and creative encounters. McIntosh Poris Associates completed preliminary design, programming, and schematic design for this project.
Design Architect: McIntosh Poris Associates
Michael Poris, AIA, Principal-in-Charge
John Skok, Assoc. AIA, Associate/Project Manager
Laurie Hughet-Hiller, Assoc. AIA, Project Architect
Jaclyn Melfi, Designer
Lauren Barry, Designer
Renee Kaip, Designer
Tom Affeldt, Designer
Drew McNamara, Designer
Jennifer Baross, Designer
Architect of Record: Neumann Smith Architecture
Joel Smith, AIA, Principal-in-Charge
Jaimelyn Neher, Designer
Size: 122,000 square feet
Client: Campbell Ewald, a national advertising and marketing communications agency with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Detroit, and San Antonio.
Affiliates: General Contractor: Turner Construction Company
MEP Engineer: MA Engineering
Structural Engineer: Desai/Nasr Consulting Engineers
Lighting Design: Illuminart
Acoustical Consultant: Acoustics By Design
Photographer: Justin Maconochie
Firm: McIntosh Poris Associates is a full-service architecture, interiors and urban design firm. Founded in 1994 by Douglas McIntosh and Michael Poris, AIA, the firm’s goal is to transform buildings, communities, and urban centers with architecture realized through vision and dialogue. Since its inception, McIntosh Poris Associates has been designing award-winning projects for residential, commercial, and institutional clients. The firm has built numerous single and multi-family residential, mixed-use, commercial, hospitality, institutional, and arts projects in Michigan, California, Connecticut, New York, and Ontario.
