Project Update: The Native American Rights Fund (NARF)

I had the pleasure of designing the new national headquarters in Washington, D.C. for The Native American Rights Fund (NARF). NARF fights to protect Native American rights, resources, and lifeways through litigation, legal advocacy, and legal expertise and it was an honor to work with their team. We worked on the breakroom, library, corridor, individual offices, the conference room and my favorite, the lobby.

I took my inspiration from the earth, the rich history of Native American traditions and of course, included an incredible array of Native American art in my concept presentation. In this rendering, the rug is meant to represent the sea and the wall covering is meant to be the mountains. The coffee table is a custom, glazed, tree trunk and it’s accessorized with traditional Native American pottery, made of unpainted clay. I love the textures and muted vibrancy of this room.

I also just wrapped up another highly personalized space for a CEO in Annapolis, that included her main office suite, lobby and conference room and it reminded me of a tour of the Microsoft headquarters in Atlanta that I was invited to by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council last Summer.
 
As high-tech as they are, Microsoft feels like an adult playground, like a home away from home, which is why their employees have loved going back into the office post Covid. They have eateries inside and every space has a branded personality that is all about comfort, instead of a traditional “office” vibe. They also have areas where they invite the community to come in and join them.

With office vacancy rates at an all-time high (between 30-55%) in prime cities like New York and San Francisco, and the impact it’s having on all the surrounding mom-and-pop shops, corporate businesses need to understand that the best way to get an employee back into the office is to make work feel like home.

Creating branded office environments is something I’ve always been excited about doing.  They let me take an architectural approach and create spaces that are the visual and emotional essence of your brand. Whether we design with custom furniture, or art, or collaborate with one of our partners to get your high-tech conference room right, we want your team to have better social interaction, collaboration and productivity. 

If your office needs a rehab, let’s talk.