The brand story of advertising agency Martin Williams (MW) needed to be told with something bold, brave and unexpected.
Moving from a multi-storied location with views of the Minneapolis skyline to a single-floor plate with half the square footage and limited views, MW needed to think differently about the space. The new office was laid out with principles of mobility in mind: employees armed with laptops, custom MW headphones and branded backpacks. Workstations were minimized to provide room for a variety of work settings: booths, huddle rooms and standing-height counters along the perimeter.
The limited space meant nearly every surface became writable, tackable or housed technology. To improve project delivery, a wall of monitors adjacent to project managers referred to as “Grand Central Station” makes the constantly evolving project and staff list visible. Pulling walls away from the windows allows circulation along the perimeter while allowing daylight to penetrate the space, creating an interior focus where views are not desirable, and an outward focus at the curved ends with expansive views of the city.
