Page 65 - ArchDC_Summer2021

The one bit of exuberance that Armstrong would
allow is the first thing that visitors to the NCARB
offices see: a dramatically faceted reception desk set
beneath an angular canopy. The design team at OTJ
envisioned the intersecting lines and triangular planes
of the reception space as an allusion to the “three E’s”—
the tripartite path toward licensure. Anyone familiar
with NCARB’s brand colors—blue, gold, and white—
will notice their incorporation into the design of the
reception space, though here the gold is represented by
light-toned wood slats and paneling.
To the right of the reception area, in the southwest
corner of floorplate, is the conference center, which
consists of a boardroom, several break-out rooms, and
a video production studio, reflecting the ever-growing
importance of digital media to the organization’s
operations. The corridor connecting these rooms
is wide enough to allow mixing and informal
conversations between meetings. Hovering above the
corridor is an array of wood slats bearing the names
of past NCARB presidents—a novel variation on the
more mundane wall panels on which many non-profit
organizations commemorate past leaders.
In the southeast corner of the space is the staff
café and lounge, which enjoys plenty of natural light,
not to mention views of the historic New York Avenue
Presbyterian Church and the National Museum of
Women in the Arts. A highlight of this area is a mural
depicting NCARB members’ favorite buildings from
each decade of the organization’s existence (as voted
on by the membership). Upon close examination,
the mural is revealed to be a composite of seals
representing all of the state and territorial registration
boards that are NCARB’s direct constituents.

Seating area (and potential future workstation space)
with meeting rooms in the background.
Photo © Trent Bell Photography

MISSION-DRIVEN DESIGN 63