The Rise and Fall of the Workstation

When planning our new office, no detail escaped examination. Not limited to the design of the actual building, the future workstations themselves received scrutiny. As part of the office-wide design charrette process (both formal and informal), Design Group team members tested a seemingly endless parade of chair and desk options.


What might seem like a minor decision was actually quite important.


Beyond simple aesthetics, the ergonomics of the desks and chairs ruled the decision-making process. Like many other professionals, architects, designers, and engineers spend the majority of their work days sitting at a desk, staring at a computer screen. This makes selecting the right desk and chair essential for employee health. Citing the proven benefits of workstations that can be adjusted in height to suit the user, we decided upon Baker's Zydeco™ electric table. At the touch of a button, each employee will be able to adjust the height of his/her desk – and will even be able to stand to work if so desired.




The Zydeco™

 

Master Plan

The New DG Headquarters Master Plan

A city planned around the automobile, Albuquerque sprawls out over the Rio Grande valley with half a million people on approximately 180 square miles.  This is a density of about 2,912 people per mile.  It may seem substantial but when compared with other American cities such as Chicago, with 12,192 people per sq mi, New York City with 17,931 people per sq mi or Boston with 7,249 people per sq mi., we have a lot of elbow room.   And while most Albuquerque residents relish their space, it does come at a cost.  Large busy streets divide neighborhoods, cars are the primary means of transportation, much of the city lacks a distinctive identity and we lose meaningful open space as the city grows westward. 

At Design Group we believe in urban planning that reflects the character of Albuquerque but also reinvests in our current neighborhoods, making our existing communities stronger, and knitting the fabric of the city and its people together.  As a part of this we have included in our master plan a possible residential or mixed use development on our site. Currently the parking lot will exceed our parking demands, and with more staff than ever walking or biking to work, there would be room for a small efficient development.  At this point these plans are very much on the drawing board, however they represent for us a brighter future for our community and our city.

A New Neighborhood, A Committment to Community



The New Neighborhood



Once the Design Group moves into its new Headquarters, the commute will get much shorter for several team members, including Emily Brudenell:

”Once we move, I will be able to walk to work in the amount of time it takes me currently to drive, or bike in even less time.  It’s going to be great; I can’t wait to move!”

The selection of this site was deliberate.  Owners Doug Majewski and Gregory Hartman considered dozens of sites before finally deciding to move forward with the location on Vassar.  Vassar offered the most opportunities to develop a project that would help cultivate a stronger community and support a diverse, walkable neighborhood. As Gregory observed,

"We are thrilled to become a part of a mixed use neighborhood where employees can live, work, learn, play and shop all within walking distance.  The Design Group was founded on community projects like this that positively impact our neighborhoods for future generations.  Adding another fifty years of life to a vacant building through revitalization is not only true sustainability but it also enriches our common cultural heritage.”

That many staff members will be able to walk or bike to work is a bonus.  Says one team member, Kirstin Kalberg:

“I love the fact that our new office is located on the cusp of a residential neighborhood.  It lends a sense of community to our office and work.  The location is really fantastic.”

Photovoltaic Panel Installation Begins



Installation of the PV panels


Progress continues at the new Headquarters building, and today marks a major "Green" milestone for the building.  Positive Energy, Inc. is on site installing the photovoltaic (PV) panels that will supply a significant amount of the building's power needs.  The PV panels, made by SunPower, employ unique technology making them more efficient than most panels on the market. More than simply a key LEED Certification requirement for the building, the use of PV panels represents The Design Group's committment to sustainability.

Click on the links below to view a couple of short videos of the installation in progress:

Our New Design Group Headquarters

Every day brings us one step closer to our new Design Group Headquarters.  Here's a "before" shot: