Project Description
Marketing communications agency Wray Ward opened the doors to its new home at 2317 Thrift Road in Charlotte, North Carolina, bringing its office area, collaboration spaces and production studios under one roof for the first time in a 39,000-square-foot adaptive reuse and new construction project in the city’s emerging FreeMoreWest area. With a specialty in the home and building products categories, Wray Ward integrated client products in the build with a design that captures the agency’s creative culture and is well suited to host an agency of 100+ collaborators in a COVID-aware world.
The new office takes shape from the renovation of an existing 20,000-square-foot 1950s industrial structure and construction of a new, two-story attached building. In addition to mixing old and new and textured and smooth, the design preserves the rich patina of the agency’s colors through painted steel, pops of fabric and artwork.
The new space promotes creativity, collaboration and productivity through inspired meeting spaces, access to fresh air and natural light, and vibrant colors, patterns and textures. Thirteen conference rooms range in size and setup — from large spaces for client and staff presentations to small nooks with comfortable chairs for individual use, “mega booths” for small-group work sessions, an editing suite, and a tech-heavy “think tank.” A 1,600-square-foot rooftop deck and first-floor patio provide outdoor workspaces, and an oversized breakroom and game room complete with ping pong table and foosball add to the office’s energy.
A dramatic stadium-style raised seating area greets guests as they walk into the lobby; sized to host all-staff “town halls,” the space has a wall of windows for dramatic effect.
Pops of color throughout the building and graphic wall coverings, bold textures and even backlit, perforated metal wall panels offer striking design detail. This blend of clean, vibrant color with more geometric or abstract elements helps to spark creativity through its stimulating mix of materials.
For the first time, the agency houses its studio space for photo and video shoots within its office. The 3,000-square-foot studio features load-in garage doors, ample natural light with blackout capabilities, and concrete floors to easily move equipment, props and people throughout the space.
Throughout the building, products from Wray Ward’s portfolio of brands take center stage. Hunter Douglas (LEVOLOR) window shades add sleek privacy offerings, while Sherwin-Williams paint colors bring Wray Ward’s signature color scheme to life; Floor & Decor tile is used as floor and accent wall tile in restrooms, break rooms and conference rooms as well as hardwood plank cladding for the lobby and stadium seating area; hardware and handles from CR Laurence contribute to glass wall systems and doors; Moen faucets and Glen Raven’s Sunbrella fabric add comfort and style throughout the space; and, Global Plasma Solutions air purification systems and VELUX skylights bring fresh air and natural light to the space.
Recognizing the wellness benefits of natural light, Wray Ward worked with architect Redline Design and property owner LPA Urban to integrate 15 VELUX Skylights throughout the office and studio. VELUX® Modular Skylights are used throughout the building, allowing for light when it’s needed and shade when it’s not. Sun tunnels add natural light in spaces with fewer windows, and vented skylights provide more access to fresh air. Additionally, a VELUX glass canopy frame adorns the building’s main entrance.
Additionally, Wray Ward integrated an air purification system from Global Plasma Solutions. The company’s patented needlepoint bipolar ionization technology (NBPI™) eliminates airborne particulates, odors and pathogens without introducing ozone into the environment, providing cleaner, safer air to help mitigate the risk of Covid-19.