Learn how SPACE helped The Department of State furnish a new, four-story educational building on its Foreign Service Institute campus in Arlington, VA. 

Problems

Midland Reformed Church reached out to us at SPACE Inc. in the hopes of brightening up their basement space. 

The church hosts its nursery and Sunday School programs in the lower level of their building. But, as is often the case, it was beginning to feel tired, dark, and gloomy—especially with its low ceilings. 

Some water damage had also contributed to a musty smell, so they wanted to find a solution that would prevent further issues like this.

Solutions

The most important solution we found for this project was a special carpet product. Most carpet selections have a plastic PVC backing, which makes them durable but can encourage mold growth.

So we selected a product by Milliken that has a unique, breathable backing. This ensures that any moisture in the concrete foundation will move through the fabric with no moisture retention.

It’s also a highly sustainable option, as it will break down quickly in the landfill—but can also be ground up like paper and reused. 

Plus, this choice was budget friendly, while still bright and colorful—as most budget carpets are dull and drab. This was important because our partners at Midland Reformed also wanted each classroom to have its own color scheme, which you’ll see in the gallery photos. We brought the colors together in the main gathering room through a bright, symmetrical pattern. 

Challenges

The team at Midland Reformed were smart to begin the project early in January 2022, so we could collectively meet our goal of demolition and installation during the slower summer months. 

Because of this strategic planning, we were ready to unveil the new space when school started in the fall—welcoming all the children into their colorful, bright new gathering area. 

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Was the team at Midland Reformed satisfied with our creative commercial design solution? Sheri commented that they “were doing backflips!” 

We’re grateful for this opportunity to exceed client expectations by remaining budget friendly and offering a sustainable carpet solution.

For this workplace design project, Tri-Star Bank Trust asked us to reinvent a ground level space that had been flooded. This tiny, 900 square-foot space only has one window, so the challenge was to make it feel high-class without the stigma of a dark basement.

They challenged us to fit three offices, two drop-in spaces, a conference room, and a common area with a kitchenette in their workspace. 

Over the eight-month project, we did everything from gathering permits, overseeing demo and construction, selecting design elements, and installing furniture. 

First, we selected a classic color palette with gold and black accents. All offices—including the drop-in spaces—received height-adjustable desks for convenience. 

Working within the tight quarters, we used lighting and glasswork to open up the space. 

• Lighting: We used LED recessed can lighting to offer warmer, softer light that’s more welcoming and less institutional. Decorative pendant lighting and sconces add interest and a more residential feel.
• Glass: To open up the long, skinny suite space, we added half-height glass along the corridor wall. We also used glass on the front of each office to open the place up.

We love how this space turned out! 

No matter your challenge, our team of design experts is ready to help.

Linear Motion LLC—with a location in Saginaw, Michigan—offers configurable, economical, and high-speed guide and drive systems for harsh environments and high-speed applications.

A few years ago, we helped Linear Motion redesign their lobby and conference room. So when they wanted to breathe new life into their office space, they trusted SPACE to help.

Problems

Linear Motion recently acquired Thomson Aerospace and Defense. As the company rebranded, leadership wanted to modernize their office space, which featured dark, burgundy panels, old carpet, dim and inefficient lighting and many cubicles and filing systems. 

It was important to Linear Motion to invest in their employees and create a space they could be proud of—and work efficiently in. With headquarters in Italy, the team sought the clean and minimalist style of European design.

Solutions

As we began our relationship, we listened to Linear Motion’s needs, gave recommendations, and demonstrated our ability to be a resource and consultant. We also brought them to the Haworth showroom to display current office design trends and a great example of how to entertain their global clientele. 

Their workplace design project was a complete gut—ceiling, lighting, and flooring. 

We lowered the height of the cubicle walls and added glass with film, creating an open feel with moderate privacy. This brought in their brand colors while breaking up the sea of full-height panels. We also added accessory ports and desktop power. 

We reorganized departments to better use their space while giving them room for growth and collaborative tables for informal departmental meetings.

Challenges

Linear Motion intentionally aimed to be cost-effective—providing a brand new look without appearing showy. They were smart and very purposeful in how and where they invested into the space. 

The office building has beautiful, east-facing windows, but this proved troublesome at sunrise. We provided mesh shade window treatments to block glare while not losing out on the natural light. A new conference room with updated technology and glass windows overlooks the river.

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“I’m really glad to have chosen SPACE as our key partner for these important projects. We’re shining again and that’s thanks to you,” said Fabrizio Moretti.