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Abercrombie
& Fitch, renowned for its well-made, stylish clothing aimed at active
collegians, had split from its parent company but remained within the
same corporate complex. Their space was a generic, nearly windowless environment.
Their identity was not expressed beyond a lobby sign and a few ad images
scattered throughout the offices.
Abercrombie & Fitch hired Anderson architects to create "a hip
and inspiring space in which people worked harder, better, and longer;
where they are more productive and more creative." For their new
headquarters, they selected a site in rural Ohio, more than 300 acres
of open fields, dense woodland, streams, wetlands, and ravines. First
of all, the project team created a master plan that located the areas
for development and designated much of the site as permanent open space.
The
jury liked this project because "it broke so many of the perceived
notions of what the workplace needs to look like." Its primary design
objective was to create a daily experience whereby "associates (the
company term for all its employees) are transitioned into a world that
not only reflects the brand, but also plays a significant role in shaping
the brand."
Throughout the corporate campus, open workstations promote interaction
among team members and encourage collaboration. The workstations were
designed as an easily adaptable kit of parts, where a few simple interchangeable
components allow any work area to be reconfigured, thus maximizing efficiency
by saving on space and down time for renovation. The project also supports
more unusual spaces, including an exterior street that connects the campus
buildings, a dining hall that also offers take-out food, a state-of-the-art
gym, running trails throughout the site, outdoor fire circles and indoor
fireplaces, and a "tree house" conference room.
"The
facility really epitomized the business trend of capturing their brand
identity in their facilities," the jury remarked. "They also
captured the rural Ohio farm style in their architecture, and they were
very respectful of the natural environment."
Copyright 2002 The American Institute of Architects.
All rights reserved.
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Photos courtesy of the architect.
The 2002 BW/AR jury:
Lawrence L. Edge, President
World Development Federation
Steven M. Goldberg, FAIA, Partner
Mitchell/Giurgola Architects, LLP
Dr. Michael Hammer, President
Hammer and Company, Inc.
Jon Adams Jerde, FAIA, Chair, Founder
The Jerde Partnership, Inc.
Toshiko Mori, Chair, Department of Architecture
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Timothy J. O'Brien, Vice President, Real Estate
Ford Motor Company
Chee Pearlman, Design Consultant
Columnist for the New York Times
Cathy J. Simon, FAIA, Principal
Simon Martin-Vegue Winkelstein Moris
David A. Thurm, Vice President, Real Estate Development
The New York Times Company
Robert W. Vanech, Venture Partner
AMP5, LLC.
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