ASAI Offices
Kansas
City, Missouri |
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The
new offices are designed as a "house within a house"
leaving the existing building envelope, with its concrete frame and
arched window perimeter, virtually unaltered.
The new facilities are recessed from the existing envelope as
a clear expression between new and old.
The resultant interstitial space provides circulation, common
functional areas such as conference, display space and dynamic views
of the existing arcaded exterior wall and coffered concrete roof
structure. |
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| Taking advantage of the loft volume, a rent free mezzanine
level design studio, library and computer room was created
increasing usable area to meet the program, providing expansion and
spatially dynamic experiences.
In
the renovation of the historic Bonfils Building, a Venitianesque
loft type structure which housed the renowned "old Penny
Arcade" we fit 10,000 S.F. functional program into the
buildings 7,800 S.F. second floor.
This developed a space to exemplify ASAI's record for
appropriately spirited original design while expressing the existing
contextual imperatives.
Development
of the interior design is inspired by and merges with existing
architectural precedents.
The arched vault of the reception and conference spaces are
volumes extruded from the arcade windows.
The arched ceiling, an aluminum ribbed wood shell explicitly
expresses the difference between its light and temporal interior
character from the permanent masonry envelope.
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The wood walls, limited to reception and circulation areas,
define public spaces and are designed to recall the building's
exterior stone and terra cotta masonry.
Primary work and support areas are utilitarian in character
with expanses of glass to make small spaces feel open and generous.
The design space is subdivided into four studios each with a
hierarchy of work stations including drafting station, project
manager work space and an office for associates related to design
and production.
Circulation spaces throughout serve double duty as libraries,
display, conference, storage, kitchen, etc.
In general, the walls, floors and ceilings are neutral
"no-color" background surfaces allowing the design work,
photographs of the finished products, artifacts and people to
dominate. |
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