McKee, Wallwork + Co
NAIOP Award Winner
McKee Wallwork + Company (MW+C) is a local advertising agency and marketing consultancy that specializes in turning around stalled, stuck, and stale brands.
Located in a former warehouse of the historic Glorieta Brewing Company, the new headquarters of MW+C is part of Glorieta Station – an eight-acre redevelopment project which is bringing new life to downtown Albuquerque.
The office design celebrates the history of the building by highlighting the existing concrete floors and wood columns, trusses, and ceilings throughout the space. New plywood casework, metal mesh railings, and glass storefronts along the enclosed private offices and meeting spaces reinforce the industrial nature of the space.
Designed to express the creative nature of their work, MW+C’s office space is an innovation lab infused with formal and informal collaborative spaces. Visitors and staff arrive into the space at the old warehouse loading dock and encounter a grand staircase that leads up to the reception desk. A large communal kitchen with informal meeting spaces is located adjacent to the client-facing conference rooms which can be opened up to this area, creating one large gathering space.
Ample collaboration surfaces can be found throughout the space and include sliding glass panels, whiteboards, tackable wall panels, and kitchen cabinetry clad with a writeable whiteboard laminate. These surfaces allow MW+C to pin-up and display their work, supporting the creative process. New light fixtures and a large feature island with a dramatic quartz waterfall countertop elevate the client-facing spaces.
Flexibility was a key goal of the design, providing MW+C with the ability to adapt to the changing demands of their industry. In the open office area, wireless data and ceiling power access support this flexibility and allow workstation layouts to be easily modified. Small conference rooms and private offices were all designed to the same module, allowing them to be easily converted between these two uses.
