Interior Design

Dynamic and creative communication strategies are a constant demand for Saxum PR. As a thriving company with a bold vision, Saxum inevitably needed to expand their layout to accommodate the functionality and efficiency required to handle their escalating list of clienteles and future employees. Their spatial requirements included a variety of private and open offices, multi-purpose room, multiple break rooms, meeting rooms, green room and storage. Saxum’s goal was to convert the former 1950’s Kirkpatrick Oil Co. building, on Automobile Alley, into a fresh urban space with an engaging environment they could call home. Some of the key design elements that HSE focused on were giving the entry a more defined profile, adding exterior identity, making the space feel open, offering areas for impromptu discussion and ideas, enhancing the industrial features of the building and respecting the history of John Kirkpatrick’s first office building. The overall interior space is a combination of exposed structural materials, contemporary finishes, special wall features and use of natural light. The highly contemporary furniture balances the simplicity of each space. To enhance the feel of an open work environment and encourage communication, low height systems furniture is located in central areas. Along the perimeter are private offices enclosed with translucent honeycomb panels that emit natural light into the central area. More light is exposed through the skylights along the hallways. Adding visual interest are images giving homage to the building’s former historic owner. The lobby features a large scale graphic of an oil rig alongside Saxum’s mission in text and a portrait of John Kirkpatrick on the opposing wall. Another dominating wall feature is Kirkpatrick’s massive world map that can be seen in several historic photos. The creative use of the map as artwork is both representative of the building’s past, but also signifies Saxum’s growth as a company and ability to branch out globally.

Accel Financial Staffing is a company, serving greater Oklahoma City and companies throughout the United States. The client was looking into re-locating her company in Automobile Alley so they could update their overall look and image. She selected the historic Packard Building to become the new home of Accel Financial which would include a reception area, lobby, private offices, an open office, conference room, kitchen, restrooms with a shower and a private workout facility. As part of the challenge of any historic space, HSE diligently worked with the client in integrating her particular aesthetics and requirements to cohesively work with existing materials. Built in the 1920’s the Packard Building still maintained original finishes such as terrazzo flooring and plaster on the walls. To retain the space’s historic value HSE patched and repaired the flooring, restored the plaster and only added to the space that was completely necessary. HSE designed the space to have a combination of industrial and contemporary elements. To deal with only one façade exposing natural light, the offices and conference room have full height glass walls to help extend the sun’s rays to the back area. Also, in order to maintain the exposed structural elements of the space, new office walls stop short of the structural deck to expose the structure and ductwork. To give the space it’s distinct personality, HSE created a concept that encompassed the client’s love for contemporary classic design, art and her jewel covered buffalo ‘Jewels’ to produce a highly modern and serene office. A strong feature is the emphasis on white which allowed special design elements and art to ‘pop’ and create visual interest. Some of the special materials that HSE included were a blue three dimensional acrylic wall panel to highlight ‘Jewels’ and a locally made kitchen countertop that is comprised of concrete and blue recycled glass. Taking the space into high design are the client’s personal art, unique furniture systems, modern classic furniture and white panels with iconic prints on the conference room wall.

The interior space of United Way captures the cohesive and welcoming aesthetic that reflects the employees and the agencies they represent. The 1911 historic church was converted into a versatile corporate office building offering conference rooms, offices, a large workroom, substantial storage, a print shop, main break room and an adjacent multi-purpose room. The spatial layout is designed to allow efficient accessibility from the numerous surrounding offices to common areas such as conference rooms, smaller break areas, and the centralized workroom. To create an open atmosphere, each office and conference room includes store front windows that extensively expand the hallways and allow for natural light from hallway skylights to enter through the offices. Minimalism was a strong concept that was revealed through the clean lines of the details, lighting composition and textures of the material selection throughout the entire building. Upon entry the lobby features a custom designed reception desk comprised of exotic wood veneers and finished with an acrylic countertop. The conference room dramatically features conceptual waves of Armstrong’s acoustical suspended ceiling system that complements a striking MDF sculpted wall panel located at the foreground of the presentation area. Throughout the building, each office and multi-purpose space contains flexible systems furniture that performs according to the specific needs of each end user. Following the minimalist concept, the overall color palette is regulated to warm neutrals and luminous accents with bursts of colors from fabrics and accent walls that assist in way-finding. The light tones of the woods and paint are also ideal for gallery display and enhance the bright and colorful artwork collection that United Way will accumulate over time.