The new interior design of the 50,000-sf space for the American Automobile Association’s (AAA) Northern California, Nevada, and Utah headquarters includes collaborative spaces and attempts to embrace the atmosphere of a classic American road trip.
The building’s redesign, which was handled by HGA, includes the addition of custom Knoll workstations, a conference center, a café area with meeting areas, and a high-impact entryway. The theme of the “American road trip” was incorporated throughout the space.
The boardroom, for example, features a wood treatment that resembles tire tracks and a table with vintage hubcaps. Additionally, headlight light fixtures are found in the conference room and meeting nooks are inspired by 1970s rest areas. Commissioned photography featuring Northern California, Nevada, and Utah environments was made into window film to create the sensation of looking through a car window.
Photo: HGA.
AAA wanted to new space to attract a younger clientele and workforce, while also retaining the employees they currently have. HGA found that many of the meetings that occur in the office involve four or fewer people, so the firm was able to save AAA substantial square footage and allot significantly more space for meetings by reducing the size of typical conference rooms that previously seated eight to 10 employees.
See Also: Telecommunications company’s remodeled headquarters makes use of its unique H shape
“We spent a significant amount of time upfront with AAA to find out what was working really well and what things could be improved,” says Melissa Pesci, Principal and Vice President at HGA, in a release. ““AAA had previously established a work environment that was incredibly supportive of focused work, but in an effort to attract a millennial workforce as well as better support and inspire the current employees, AAA wanted a space that was more balanced between offering this focused space in addition to a variety of dynamic collaboration spaces.”
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Jul 19, 2023
Office leasing in major markets by financial services firms rebounds to pre-pandemic norms
Though the pandemic led to reductions in office leasing by financial services firms in gateway markets, a recent report by JLL found a notable leasing resurgence by those firms.
Sustainability | Jul 13, 2023
Deep green retrofits: Updating old buildings to new sustainability standards
HOK’s David Weatherhead and Atenor’s Eoin Conroy discuss the challenges and opportunities of refurbishing old buildings to meet modern-day sustainability standards.
Government Buildings | Jul 13, 2023
The recently opened U.S. Embassy in Ankara reflects U.S. values while honoring Turkish architecture
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) has recently opened the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. The design by Ennead Architects aims to balance transparency and openness with security, according to a press statement. The design also seeks both to honor Turkey’s architectural traditions and to meet OBO’s goals of sustainability, resiliency, and stewardship.
Sponsored | Fire and Life Safety | Jul 12, 2023
Fire safety considerations for cantilevered buildings [AIA course]
Bold cantilevered designs are prevalent today, as developers and architects strive to maximize space, views, and natural light in buildings. Cantilevered structures, however, present a host of challenges for building teams, according to José R. Rivera, PE, Associate Principal and Director of Plumbing and Fire Protection with Lilker.
Mass Timber | Jul 11, 2023
5 solutions to acoustic issues in mass timber buildings
For all its advantages, mass timber also has a less-heralded quality: its acoustic challenges. Exposed wood ceilings and floors have led to issues with excessive noise. Mass timber experts offer practical solutions to the top five acoustic issues in mass timber buildings.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 11, 2023
Converting downtown office into multifamily residential: Let’s stop and think about this
Is the office-to-residential conversion really what’s best for our downtowns from a cultural, urban, economic perspective? Or is this silver bullet really a poison pill?
Adaptive Reuse | Jul 10, 2023
California updates building code for adaptive reuse of office, retail structures for housing
The California Building Standards Commission recently voted to make it easier to convert commercial properties to residential use. The commission adopted provisions of the International Existing Building Code (IEBC) that allow developers more flexibility for adaptive reuse of retail and office structures.
Headquarters | Jul 5, 2023
The game room: Transforming game design office spaces
IA Interior Architects' designers discuss the aesthetic considerations for gaming industry work environments.
Office Buildings | Jun 28, 2023
When office-to-residential conversion works
The cost and design challenges involved with office-to-residential conversions can be daunting; designers need to devise creative uses to fully utilize the space.
Standards | Jun 26, 2023
New Wi-Fi standard boosts indoor navigation, tracking accuracy in buildings
The recently released Wi-Fi standard, IEEE 802.11az enables more refined and accurate indoor location capabilities. As technology manufacturers incorporate the new standard in various devices, it will enable buildings, including malls, arenas, and stadiums, to provide new wayfinding and tracking features.