Designing IBM’s new 122,000 square-foot regional headquarters near Dulles Airport in Herndon, Virginia, was a groundbreaking project focused on redefining the workplace for a new era. As the first to define IBM’s “Generation e-workspace,” the design was centered around creating a dynamic, flexible environment that would support the evolving needs of today’s mobile workforce. Our goal was to enhance space utilization, reduce real estate costs, and most importantly, prioritize the way people work in the modern age.
The creative process behind the design began with a shift in perspective—from traditional office layouts to a more fluid, people-centric approach. We focused on how employees interact, both with one another and with the business at large. The layout was deliberately configured to optimize key relationships: employee-to-employee, employee-to-business, employee-to-customer, and employee-to-supplier. This meant designing spaces that foster collaboration, communication, and innovation, while also accommodating individual work needs.
A key element of the design was integrating technology into the workspace in meaningful ways. To support IBM’s cutting-edge operations, we incorporated a variety of new technologies that enable employees to work efficiently and effectively. Web-based portals, content management systems, e-learning tools, and other digital platforms were seamlessly embedded into the design, giving employees immediate access to the resources and information they need to do their jobs, no matter where they are.
The result is a workspace that goes beyond traditional office functions, creating an environment where technology and design come together to support the way IBM’s employees work, collaborate, and innovate. This “Generation e-workspace” is not just a place to work; it’s a forward-thinking solution that anticipates the needs of a global, mobile workforce and sets the stage for the future of work.
Project location: Herndon, VA
Project size 122,000 SF
Work previously completed by John Jessen as Principal Architect with Architect-of-Record VOA Associates (now Stantec).