New Office Design Focuses On Construction Culture

When McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., a national green building and construction firm, sought a new Houston location to accommodate its growing presence in that region, it turned to interior architecture firm lauckgroup to create an office design that injected a sense of local pride into the space and met their growing staff’s needs. The lauckgroup Houston office crafted a space that honored the brand with a design while also capturing the way the firm’s employees work for their clients. The new space is designed for increased functionality and improved layout adjacency issues while incorporating much needed staff-focused amenity and meeting spaces.

As guests enter the spacious reception area at McCarthy in Houston, they are welcomed by a reception desk constructed from a lightweight, poured-in-place concrete panel system. Additional features reference the materiality nature of the construction industry, such as polished concrete floors and a bent, branded steel transaction panel relocated from McCarthy’s previous office space. A conference room beyond the reception area is constructed with glass panels, providing views to an outdoor lawn. Dynamic LED lighting and a color palette of vibrant hues complement the colors of McCarthy’s logo. The space is balanced by muted natural tones and materials while a custom carved shelf in the reception area provides an area to promote the firm’s many accolades and honors.

An emphasis was also placed on sustainability and the use of natural materials throughout the new office. The design team repositioned the layout of workstations and meeting rooms to increase flow and efficiency, repurposing 99% of the existing office furniture while adding additional pieces to accommodate the expansion.

To foster the desired collaborative environment, new training, conference and break rooms were incorporated to help facilitate career development and group initiatives. Employee-focused design highlights include an expansive break area and lounge that provides staff with dedicated leisure space, featuring a variety of seating types, a hospitality bar, TV, and views outdoors. The large tile panels that outfit the lounge area pay homage to the game of dominoes, a popular staff pastime. Two private phone booth rooms were also implemented to address privacy needs, providing dedicated areas for quiet and focused work.

“As an employee-owned company, the design of our Houston office is an important piece of McCarthy’s corporate culture — we needed a space that reflects our brand and helps us build upon our thriving ownership culture,” said McCarthy Houston division president, Jim Stevenson. “The office design lauckgroup created will help us maintain our goal of recruiting and retaining top talent in the industry as it leverages smart technology and provides space for our employees meant to foster collaboration and increase productivity.”

The walls throughout the new office are decorated with artwork and logos created by McCarthy’s in-house branding team, further emphasizing the company’s cultural core.