America Online

Creative Center 2

Loudoun, Virginia

America Online's Creative Center 2 totals 230,000 gross square feet, accommodating approximately 730 employees. The building is a 4‑story structure with a partial basement at the building's south end. The building design takes advantage of the site's natural features as well as its natural slope by placing loading and building services at basement level screening them from view. Additionally, the building was designed with a significantly larger footprint (60,000 square feet) to provide AOL greater planning flexibility and efficiency resulting in a less expensive unit skin cost. The 14-foot slab-to-slab dimension allowed for nine-foot finished ceiling height in the office area, which corresponded to the interior design solution for systems furniture used in the space.

We worked closely with Herman Miller to modify its existing Ethospace furniture system to create an intensive private office environment. A connector between the top of the standard panel and ceiling created an environment that allows AOL to easily reconfigure offices without construction or modification to flooring or ceiling systems. To provide employees with greater control over their individual work environments, we designed an underfloor air distribution system that supplies conditioned air to all the office areas. Each office is equipped with floor mounted diffusers to allow individual regulation of air flow. Also, remote dimming switches in each office were designed and installed to allow for individually controlled lighting. Special areas include a 200-seat auditorium, cafeteria, atrium meeting area, conference and training center and other special technical and support areas.