Trumbull, CT – October 2010
After successfully completing a corporate headquarters relocation project in 2003 for Cooper Surgical, Antinozzi Associates was asked back to provide programming, design services and construction administration services to double their space – resulting in a new 77,000 SF corporate headquarters facility in Trumbull, Connecticut.
Cooper Surgical, a medical device manufacturing company, wanted the new facility to fit their vision of a state-of-the-art destination that would standardize their workplace, increase collaboration, unify departments, and attract/retain a talented workforce. Working with the developer of the site, R.D. Scinto, Inc., Antinozzi Associates created a building that sits atop a high rock face location and responds directly to the curve of the road. The solution, a 3-story all-glass curtain wall building, uses different sizes of pure white bullnose mullions and spandrel panels, generating reflective images of the surrounding forest and sky. In addition, blue shadow boxes (reflecting the Cooper logo color) add depth and branding to the building as Cooper’s new ‘home’ and unique floor shapes form balconies on the second and third floors.
After proceeding up a curved drive to the building, one is welcomed by a two-story front entrance protected by a soaring third floor supported by two-story stainless steel columns. This strong entry element carries the exterior’s white granite floor and linear metal ceiling finishes into the two-story Entry Lobby, which incorporates a 1 ½ story stone tile focal wall with LED light strips that change color, as well as a message board to welcome visitors or inform employees of daily events.
On the interior, 9’-0” high windows with 36” sills were specifically incorporated to maximize the amount of daylight into the interior spaces. The solid portions of all workstation partitions were kept at a height of 34” to allow maximum light penetration. Horizontally, a 5’-0” standard module was developed to respond to the workstation and office standards created by Antinozzi Associates for the project after an extensive programming analysis of the Cooper Surgical employees’ needs. Ceiling grids, lighting, and interior/exterior window walls followed this module throughout the entire facility, resulting in an efficient and elegant design solution. To allow further light to penetrate the building, butt-glazed interior office walls with sill and head heights matching the exterior windows were incorporated.
Lighting was an important part of the design solution for both the interior workplace as well as to organize the perception of the building in the evening. 6” wide, high-output lamps were located in all of the offices on the 5’-0” module, perpendicular and centered to the exterior vertical window mullions and interior butt-glazed joints. Where workstations or collaboration spaces abutted the exterior wall, a 9’-0” high gypsum board soffit was created (with downlights on the 5’-0” module), and a strategically-placed, sound-absorbing 2’x2’ ceiling cloud was dropped and sized to create a sense of place above the workstations. All exposed structure and ductwork above the ceiling was painted the client’s blue logo color – branding and creating a unique environment throughout the building. Three different, but harmonious, carpet patterns were used for wayfinding through the building, helping to define circulation, workstation areas and office spaces.
To promote business collaboration in a social setting, special attention was given to the cafeteria and servery. High and low tables with soft-seating areas provide dining and resting areas to all of the employees in the company. A second floor “Family Room” was created to provide another informal gathering place.
The Antinozzi Associates design team worked closely with Cooper Surgical to respond to the needs of the project – from detailing the exterior appearance to visiting furniture consultant showrooms to understand the latest in office furniture and workstation design/configuration. ‘Town meetings’ with major stakeholders were held to ensure they were aware of the project’s mission so there was consensus at every level of the company. By using customized questionnaires sent to all employees, we were able to understand the company’s working habits, conferencing and privacy needs, departmental relationships, eating habits, and a ‘wish list’. This document, along with the organizational chart, was used from start to finish and enabled us to create an environment that executives and employees alike are proud of.