Autodesk came to the design team with an established set of goals to improve their Denver office; a workplace that was modern and in alignment with their global portfolio of offices, to increase productivity, and to foster a culture that was lacking from among the sales team that made up their Denver workforce. To make sure the design was hitting the mark on the client’s vision, a high profile, state of the art building in Denver’s thriving Lower Downtown neightborhood was selected. The design team then established a concept of ying vs. yang, which drove the design of the entire floorplate.

Autodesk has built their reputation and products around the premise of ‘strong and clear visual impact’. In order to bring the ying to their yang, the design juxtaposes the digital nature of Autodesk’s work by using the 67- and 113-degree angles from the brand mark, represented in an understated and natural material palette. To further emphasize this, and to bring the ying of Denver office to the yang of the corporate engine of Autodesk, the team designed a set of mega graphics that helped showcase the natural adventures sitting at the doorstep of Downtown Denver.

This simple move of Autodesk’s digital ying to Colorado’s natural ynag created a cohesive architectural language throughout the workplace, and according to our client, the “Autodesk branding as well as local “Denver” culture has helped our employees to have a sense of ownership and not feel like just another corporate office”.

The concept of ying/yang doesn’t stop there. Coupled with the unique triangle floorplate of their Downtown office, the angles and material selection established natural moments to enforce areas of collaboration in addition to defining informal heads down/private work, which in our client’s words has “enhanced collaboration” and employee satisfaction within the office.

Photography: Photographer: Jasper Sanidad