But Fire & Rain couldn't afford to look backward. Even more than most businesses, advertising and design are computer-intensive. Video screens and white boards are prominent, too. "We’re in a creative business. We're writers, art directors and filmmakers. We must exude creativity," says partner Joe Ellsworth.

The Kimball Office Solution
Today, two-thirds of the original structure has been enclosed — but the boundaries between inside and out are blurred. Large windows beneath a 30-foot ceiling usher in the sun. Antique white and Sandstone finishes with Autumn Cherry wood trim further encourage the flow of light. Cetra panels in graduated heights, many with glass inserts, bring brightness to every corner.

And those corners are exciting in themselves. An all-diagonal orientation in the "Great Hall" (as the company calls it) brings a unifying, but exciting, rhythm to the vast space. It creates, according to partner Ron Bonger, "a cityscape feeling, almost like you're walking through the marketplace again." To support brainstorming and problem-solving, the floorplan features multiple gathering spots, including a billiards and dartboard area, along with conference and presentation rooms.

Private spaces include mobile Array tables and cushioned top mobile pedestals, plus other elements to encourage free thinking and collaboration. Acoustic panels support concentration, absorbing the echoes that can come with high ceilings.

"We wanted guests to feel the creativity when they walked into this space," says Bonger. "It's working."

Ellsworth agrees. "You can tell right away by visitors' reactions that we're conveying the image we want."

Product Specifications: Cetra^® system; Footprint^® worksurfaces and storage; Conferencing Solutions tables; Skye^® seating.

Project team: Business Environments, Dealership; Styles Studio, Interior Design.