Background
What happens when a tech giant renowned for spectacular workspaces finds itself with three less-than-inspirational buildings? Architects Studio Sarah Willmer Architecture and Interiors teamed up with Sidell Pakravan Architects and rose to the challenge. They brought excitement to the space by creating a daring concept called the "caterpillar", which depended on lighting designer Melinda Morrison to bring it to life.
Design Goals
- Make the headquarters a showcase for Delos’ core wellness values and human-centric offerings
- Give employees a truly adaptable space, offering a variety of work environments for different tasks
- Give every employee access to natural light throughout the space
- Pursue and achieve WELL Platinum, LEED Platinum, & the Living Building Challenge certifications
Challenges
The nearly universal challenges of time and budget were amplified on this project due to the innovativeness of the team’s design solution — they had to quickly choose a technique to make something none of them had ever done before. Budget and building concerns also forced them to give up skylights, although Ketra’s high-quality, tunable lighting helped replicate the natural light they were seeking. The designers also struggled with the “too much of a good thing” paradox: because Ketra’s lighting offers an infinite range of color, the team had the positive challenge of landing on the perfect hues to provide the vibrant visual interest that they wanted, without veering into a Disneyland or Las Vegas type of feel.
I initially brought in a competitor’s product, but it simply did not have enough power. Ketra had the range of beam spreads needed to adapt to the changing shapes of our installation, and a full color range to match the designers’ sophisticated color palette.
The Solution
To link the spaces and foster a feeling of fluidity, the team came up with an innovative design form. A custom-crafted frame was covered in fabric and lit from within, creating a unique path guide. Because this “caterpillar” was intentionally not continuous and shifted in size for visual interest, consistent lighting seemed like an insurmountable task, until they discovered Ketra’s lighting. With its unparalleled light distribution, Ketra’s G2 Lamp proved to be the perfect solution. The uniform color wash and lack of hot spots produced by these lights ensured the continuous feel desired by the designers.
But the designers — and Ketra — didn’t stop there. Since skylights weren’t an option, the team did some “inside-the-box” thinking, and created eleven custom acrylic light boxes featuring 7’ runs of Ketra L4Rs in the negative space above breaks in the fabric sections. Taking advantage of Ketra’s superior control system and full range of color, these novel “skylights” automatically change hue throughout the day, incorporating the principles of biophilia in addition to signaling daily routines such as lunch hour and company shuttle departures. The designers also included a “party mode” program of light that incorporates red and rainbow colors. This bolder, more unique look is perfect for spotlighting special events such as all-hands meetings.
Our job was to give spatial ideation and excitement to their functional needs. We brought in light and daylight elements to align with their interest in biophilia.
Project photography by Bruce Damonte.
Results
Ketra’s onsite technician facilitated a full range of light testing, enabling the design team to perfectly capture the look and feel they had envisioned during the project’s planning process. The result was a sophisticated, dynamic space that captured the company’s innovative essence while delighting building users with its functionality and beauty.
The lighting in this project was critical. Without that, we would not have had the dynamism. The form would have been beautiful, but it would not have the unique luminous nature that Ketra provided.
