Notes: Opening eyes to possibilities by taking to the skies.
From Don McLaughlin’s journals: Decades ago, when we first started out, we answered an advertisement from the state to design an office building for the DNRC. The state architect informed us that we’d been chosen along with two other firms as finalists. He told us that the other firms mentioned that we were too young and inexperienced for the job, and asked us what we thought of them. We shared how thrilled we were to be grouped with what we thought were the two best firms in the state…and left it at that. We got the job…finding out that it was doubtful that it would be funded.
Miraculously, the job was funded and we began by introducing our collaborative “charrette” process. Everything seemed to fall on deaf ears, as the future tenants of the buildings were stationed in seven different locations, enjoying the seclusion and privacy. They had no desire to move into an open office and give up their independence.
Our only chance of getting the team on board, was to introduce them to the open office concept first hand. With the permission of the state architect, we chartered a plane and flew around the region visiting open office buildings. I remember the turning point when we visited the Weyerhauser building to find out the Mr. Weyerhauser himself moved out of his private office and into the open office without sacrificing a thing.
With the help of the once combative team, we went on to design a sustainable building that not only exceeded their needs, but used only ¼ of the energy of any other state building. We finished the project on time and under budget. We gave the legislature back $250,000! Their only criticism of the project was that it “looks too good”. Go figure.