McClain Finlon Communications
Denver, Colorado
The renovation and expansion to the historic American Radiator and Ben Cook Buildings created a 44,000-square-foot, integrated three-level administrative, training, conference and office headquarters for this privately-owned public relations and advertising firm.
The agency envisioned an environment that would generate “buzz” and promote creativity throughout the historic building, yet still maintain a corporate, business-like atmosphere. Primary identity/entry locations generated horizontal and vertical public circulation layouts that would respond to daylight penetrations. Exposed elevators and stair elements were designed to join divided departmental space on three different floor levels. Although the client preferred open spaces with semi-enclosed workstations, they came to the conclusion that private offices were also necessary to maintain acoustical privacy. An atrium was carved out to connect an open staircase between the two main floors. While this sacrificed valuable square footage, it created an attention-grabbing central volume that rose nearly 50 feet in the air topped by a cylindrical skylight.