Reimagining an existing building as a flexible, people centered headquarters

A future ready workplace for a global retail organization

After acquiring an outdated building just down the street from its primary headquarters, our client—a global retail organization—saw an opportunity to rethink how its workplace supported both its buyers and its growing administrative teams. By relocating functions such as legal, HR, marketing, and accounting to the renovated facility, the client was able to dedicate its existing 700,000 SF headquarters to retail buyers and executive leadership, while keeping all teams closely connected.

Our design approach to the newly acquired building has reimagined the aging structure as a flexible, future‑ready workplace. We developed a clear planning framework supported by an agile kit‑of‑parts system, including demountable walls, raised access flooring, and a curated mix of repurposed and new furniture. This strategy creates adaptable environments that can shift with changing team needs, while reducing material use and long‑term disruption. Community‑focused spaces are layered throughout the building, encouraging informal connection, collaboration, and a feeling of belonging.

Partway through the project, the COVID‑19 pandemic reshaped expectations around where and how people work. We responded by refining the workplace strategy to support hybrid work, technology‑enabled collaboration, and greater choice in how space is used. Immersive virtual tools helped maintain momentum and enabled meaningful design decisions, even as teams worked remotely.

The result is a revitalized workplace that gives administrative teams a purpose-built environment, while enabling the client to better support its users and leadership across two closely located buildings. By extending the life of the asset, we helped create workplace that balances growth, connection and long-term adaptability.