Ziba Design World Headquarters / Holst Architecture

Architects: Holst Architecture
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Team: R&H Construction, Brightworks
Area: 76,000 sqm
Year: 2009
Photographs: Stephen Miller

From the architect. When renowned design consulting firm Ziba Design sought a new headquarters office in downtown Portland, Oregon, the challenge was to create a place that fostered cross-pollination in a company defined by its multidisciplinary culture.

For the long, narrow site, Holst Architecture designed 55,000 square feet of office space that maximizes daylighting by incorporating a two-story glass curtain wall on the north facade and a light well on the south facade. An internal “street,” stretching the length of the north-facing curtain wall, is punctuated by a series of open and closed workspaces that provide ample opportunity for intermingling among employees.

Open spaces are organized into “tribes,” ideal for collaboration, while the closed spaces include conference rooms, project rooms, and an auditorium. Additional amenities consist of lounges for international clients, bike storage, a multimedia and materials library, and a full-service kitchen that opens onto a roof deck with stunning views of Portland.

The office’s ground floor features an interactive gallery space for rotating exhibits, while the double-height main lobby is flanked by display cases intended to showcase Ziba’s award-winning products. On the ground floor, 15,000 square feet of prime retail space is available for Ziba to lease out, and a public entrance opens to the auditorium, frequently used for lectures and forums.