Wellness at work

Guided by LEED, Living Building Challenge, and WELL principles, we worked to create a healthy, inspirational workplace that connects employees to one another and their natural surroundings. Strategies emphasized using healthy, regional materials, maximizing daylight and views, and fostering a warm and engaging sense of place.

The atrium streamlines vertical circulation and channels natural light throughout the workplace, including subterranean areas. A glass and louver system on the second floor fills executive suites with light, enhancing the building’s volume and openness.

Material exploration and craftsmanship

Drawing on Okland’s collaborative ethos and its origins in carpentry and shipbuilding, material exploration drove design. Onsite mock-ups were used to ensure both quality and durability against Utah’s climate. In response, the existing brick façade was pared back to incorporate modern materials, including Shou Sugi Ban wood cladding and cast-in-place concrete—both Okland specialities.

These materials subtly delineate informal and formal spaces while underscoring programmatic hierarchy. For instance, the highly social first-floor Town Hall is clad in cast-in-place concrete, contrasting with the darker Shou Sugi Ban wood enveloping the second-floor workspaces and executive suites.

Color and texture define space

Primary colors weave through the interiors, shaping and defining spaces with a thoughtful interplay of color and texture.  High-traffic areas showcase an intensification of color and texture, with cherry wood—first seen in the exterior window mullions—reappearing in the reception and lounge areas, adding warmth to the organic palette.

Red and blue dominate gathering spaces, with woven red carpets and blue accents in upholstery, paint, and tiles. The main circulation stair is enclosed in lacquered yellow steel, indicative of construction vehicles.

Collaboration with a trusted partner

Throughout the project, the design team collaborated closely with Okland, leveraging their expertise to establish sustainable, financially viable, and replicable design strategies. These principles now inform Okland’s employee offerings and company policies, reflecting their commitment to integrating sustainability and well-being into workplace culture.