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Lounge space.

            At the Wharf, “the connection to nature is really strong,      The story continues beyond the reception area, where the
        and we wanted to take advantage of that as much as we could,”   floor plan’s unusual V-shaped layout, carved by the open atrium,
        said Perkins&Will design principal Ken Wilson, FAIA, FIIDA,   created challenges and opportunities. The designers took
        ASID, LEED Fellow. The highly collaborative team of client and   advantage of the extra-long corridor leading to the executive
        architects drew inspiration from the surrounding environment   conference room to create one of the office’s distinguishing
        and the worlds of retail design and hospitality to add color,   features: a lenticular wall that serves as a project gallery. In its
        movement, and versatility. Natural, nautically-inspired   previous office (a converted motel), the firm had limited ability
        materials and biophilic details throughout the office accentuate   to update or customize its display of legacy projects. “We knew
        connections to the river and landscape beyond. The wood   they would want to display projects in their new space,” said
        ceiling evokes the deck of a ship, and was specially constructed   Wilson, “but we wanted to think about how to do that in a
        through a complex joint effort by contractor, millworker, and   very intentional way. We have this corridor going down to the
        architect to achieve the right look while maintaining access to   conference room—how can we make it more interesting?” Thin
        the building’s mechanical systems. “Spotlights in the reception   and flexible aluminum fins are evenly spaced down the corridor,
        area and circulation space are randomly placed,” explained   arranged in a lenticular pattern, so that when viewed from the
        Cordell, “and hidden within the patterns are constellations   correct angle, the abstract shapes on the fins line up perfectly
        from the night sky,” a wink towards the seafaring tradition of   to reveal a composite photograph, captured in soft-focus bokeh
        navigating by the stars.                                photography, of the Wharf’s fire pit area. Walking from one
            The reception area highlights Madison Marquette’s tradition   end of the corridor, one sees the scene in daylight, and from the
        of hospitality, with a fireplace, living wall, and landscaped   other at night. Between the blades, photos of legacy projects
        terrace creating a cozy, relaxed environment. A flat-screen display   hang on a magnetic strip, able to be quickly and easily changed
        teases photos and fly-throughs of future projects, and a cafe area    out. “We thought about the art of development, and wanted to
        is kept stocked with refreshments for guests. “It’s a very comfortable    showcase their work in a way that was artful,” Cordell said.
        space,” Cordell reported. “People can come and get a cup of coffee       At the end of the corridor, the bright executive conference
        and then start this journey through the story of Madison Marquette.”  room sits at the prow of the building, showcasing an impressive


                                                             INSIDE MADISON MARQUETTE’S COMFORT ZONE              55
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