85 10TH AVE: A WORKPLACE UNDER THE SEA
“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.”
— Loren Eiseley
Our team collaborated with TPG Architecture to revitalize this adaptive reuse workspace. Our goal was to create a playful and immersive experience that celebrates the whimsy and wonder of the ocean and its inhabitants.
Through bold, vibrant colors, diverse macro and micro textures, and spatial themes like scarcity and density, this design invites viewers to explore the depths of the sea in exciting new ways. By experimenting with light and materials, we brought unique vibrancy and personality to each area.
For wayfinding and placemaking, the floorplate was divided into four quadrants, each inspired by distinct oceanic elements: Coral, Water, Kelp, and Seagrass. The graphics and signage systems reinforce these themes through color, form, and content.
PROJECT TYPE
Environmental Graphics & WayfindingWorkplace Branding
DATE
2021–2022ROLE
Project LeadTEAM
Carla Zorrilla, Bonnie ZhouCompleted at GHD Partners
All images courtesy of GHD Partners
OTHER COLLABORATORS
TPG ArchitectureDrive21
The space gets a tremendous amount of natural light, which our team was able to utilize to celebrate the way light moves through water. Our graphics were designed with this in mind, and the result is a workplace that’s appearance ebbs and flows based on the time of day.
Abstracted illustrations of various sea creatures flow throughout the space. Created using flowing dots, the illustrations mimic the fluid movement of light and organic matter through the water.
In the center of the floor are lit, recessed nooks that we used to create a specialty installation moment on the floor. Paying homage to aquariums large and small, our team sourced over 50 aquarium figurines, and placed them on high end display.
The Nature Nook serves as a space for workers to retreat and recharge during the workday. Filled with many plants, it is intended for quiet contemplation and meditation. Our exterior graphics are styled after a vintage conservatory greenhouse, with varying levels of opacity to simulate layers of glass panels added over time, offering subtle glimpses into the room.
