Forms + Surfaces Creative Studio

Through adaptive reuse, AB Design Studio supported Forms + Surfaces' culture of innovation and solution-based design by incorporating workshops for experimentation and open office areas for teamwork and collaboration in a space both modern and historic. The architects unified the space with an 80-foot-long etched-glass wall that extends along the corridor in the center of the long volume, dividing open and closed areas and reflecting the play of texture inherent in the types of surfaces developed by the company. Patterned metal panels—a hallmark of the 50-year-old manufacturer—welcome visitors at the entrance. The only pops of color are the bathroom doors at the center of the interior, painted in the company's signature red hue. Partitions were set below the ceiling to allow the roof-supportive trusses and mechanical ductwork to be exposed so the warehouse character of the original building is maintained. Interior walls of offices, meeting rooms, and other spaces were set back from the feature wall, allowing for internal circulation and penetration of light through the glass boundary. Video conferencing rooms and monitors in work areas facilitate collaboration among company employees in different locations, including manufacturing teams in Arizona.