We were asked by Atlas Capital to turn a vacant 26,500 sf space, located in Building #2, into three separate spec suites through the addition of demising walls as well as services related to permitting and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing. Given the former warehouse’s beautifully raw aesthetic, our team kept a light touch, seeking only to show how warmly inviting offices can be, even in a concrete warehouse.

Each of the three spaces now holds conference rooms and open work areas, private offices, reception areas and full kitchens. Matte black kitchen surfaces and exposed plywood edges complement the existing raw finishes while floor-to-ceiling glass conference rooms let light into the suites and highlight original brick walls.

Separate from the original scope, and true to ROW’s experimental spirit, we worked with Andy Griffith and Rose Apodaca of local furniture distributor A+R for a furniture study exploring informal meeting and touchdown spaces. Seeking to humanize the workplace and create a sense of comfort through soft textures and palettes, our group mixed commercial office pieces by Muuto and Hay with softer pieces by Resident and menu.

Each speculative suite at ROW DTLA was outfitted with new black and cream kitchens. In place of the traditional boxed-in islands with a jogged counter for accessible seating. We chose a sawhorse leg design allowing the island to look and feel more like a custom furniture piece, creating visual lightness.

Project photography by Emi Kiwataki.