Springboard News
Natural Light in Interiors
12.6.23
Natural light plays a crucial role in residential interiors for various reasons, influencing both the aesthetics and well-being of occupants.
We recently completed a residential addition, pictured above, to a home in Robinson Township that emphasizes the importance of natural light.
There are many ways that natural light enhances the quality of our designs. Beyond the aesthetic aspects of natural light, there are health benefits as well. Natural light helps to connect us with nature, with the rhythms of the day. It can illuminate rooms without the need for artifical light and is said to enhance productivity, concentration, and positive mental health.
Mainstay’s Hybrid Workplace
6.28.23Do most people like going into the office to work? What makes an appealing and attractive workplace, one that is a pleasure to inhabit? What types of spaces are better for deep work or shallow work?
These are a few of the questions I am thinking about as we re-design Mainstay Life Services’ corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA. The company is investing in re-imagining their two story office building - inside and out- to be better configured and more appealing for hybrid work, that unique combination of remote work and in-the-office presence that is emerging nationally since Covid restrictions were lifted.
Hybrid Offices are workplaces specifically designed to be used by employees and administrators who sometimes work remotely and sometimes work physically together ‘in the office’. Today, post-Covid, companies like Mainstay are trying to accommodate employees' desires for a hybrid work schedule. While requiring that staff come into the office a certain number of days per week, Mainstay’s hybrid work goals are to maintain productivity, stimulate collaboration and innovation, and nurture a greater sense of belonging to the organization,
Since lockdown was lifted, however, Mainstay discovered that their existing office building doesn’t support hybrid work very effectively. On any given day, there can be many empty offices, spaces not conducive to other uses, while meeting spaces are in greater demand. When people come into the office, they may be more inclined to meet with their co-workers than before, but they also need places to do ‘deep work’ like report writing and data analysis, or ‘shallow work’ like emails and scheduling. The building generally feels dated. We were asked to develop a renovation plan that modernizes the look and feel of the building with a focus on hybrid work.
The first thing that we did was meet and survey the staff about hybrid work. We learned so much. Most of Mainstay’s team likes the 3/2 hybrid work schedule the company recently adopted. They enjoy the flexibility of being able to juggle the demands of life and family with work. They are concerned about how to foster and stay connected with the company and plant and grow the seeds of new ideas and programs. While many of Mainstay’s staff have discovered it can be easier to focus on some things like deep work from home, productivity and accountability can be an issue. They seem excited about our initial design suggestions for the space and eager to collaborate with us on the design. Things like lots of glass and transparency and a variety of seating and desking options, for starters.
This summer we welcomed summer interns back to Springboard, coming into the office everyday, so I am there everyday, too. We are fortunate to have a spacious, light filled studio, arrayed with flexible, adjustable height, worksurfaces, comfortable ergonomic chairs, and a kitchenette filled with snacks. My experience at Springboard informs our design approach to Mainstay’s offices. I appreciate being able to work with others in person again. It seems to make the work better - and certainly more enjoyable.
Introducing Springboard News
6.6.23This is Paul—I founded Springboard Design in 2001, to help private individuals, businesses, and nonprofits problem-solve their space needs creatively and effectively. For over twenty years, we have worked on an incredibly broad range of projects that include museums, galleries, art studios, human service organizations, restaurants, retail, and residences, including energy efficient and off grid living approaches.
I am excited about how conventional offices can be converted into hybrid workplaces to adapt to new ways of working that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our projects have ranged from very large—the multimillion dollar renovation of the National Aviary—to very small—an airport kiosk—and everything in between. The common link is multidisciplinary problem solving: our team is made up of visual artists (working with textiles, painting, and a range of media) and cultural fanatics: avid readers, music listeners, and more.
Springboard Design’s architectural approach started when I was an undergraduate double majoring in art and architecture. Each field inspired me to bring unconventional thinking to the other. After surviving the rigors of two undergraduate thesis projects, I continued my education with a master’s degree in architecture. But even though I had begun to focus on architectural practice as a profession, I never turned my back on art. In recent years, I have come full circle to embrace both fields, with architecture occupying my daytime hours and art, my ‘night shift.’
This blog will be focused on how we develop creative solutions to a variety of architectural problems, some common, and some unusual. Our approach to creative problem solving has been recognized through national design awards, publications, and presentations. In this blog, I will share our solutions to common practical issues. I’ll share insider info on architectural products like paint, siding, windows, and flooring. And I will discuss our takes on current controversies like artificial intelligence, and the pros and cons of prefabrication and manufactured housing.
Ultimately, I hope to address questions that you have about the world of design and construction through open, honest, and engaging posts. We are here to help, so if you have specific questions you’d like me to address here, please feel free to email them to me.