Boston – After decades of continued growth in the field of real estate asset management, AEW Capital Management, L.P. (AEW) is evolving and expanding its offices in Boston’s Seaport District.
The firm announced it has engaged Elkus Manfredi Architects to provide comprehensive interior architecture services to transform its existing headquarters at 2 Seaport Lane while employees are temporarily relocated to the Financial District.
AEW’s leadership is turning to Elkus Manfredi to reimagine their current offices on the 15th and 16th floors, as well as well as an expansion into space on the second floor and the creation of a brand new work lounge on the mechanical floor above the 16th, developing employee usable space where none previously existed, all designed with employee wellness in mind. The entire 75,120sf project is expected to be WELL-certified and completed in October 2020.
To achieve this evolution and expansion, designers are turning the office inside out, moving private offices to the interior of the building and positioning workstations and collaboration areas near the windows. A mix of private meeting rooms, offices, quiet work stations, and collaboration zones will be grouped into work neighborhoods. Each neighborhood will feature a communal “back porch” with views of Boston Harbor and the city skyline.
The interior architecture team of designers is engaging the client’s workforce, using direct employee feedback as well as a space utilization study based on seat sensor data to understand the company’s behaviors and develop the complete program of spaces. Designers have identified the need to create a rich variety of work settings, including additional acoustically-private conference rooms and diverse collaboration spaces.
The design also includes additional collaborative social spaces that offer employees a choice of work settings. The existing eatery, Ciao Cafe, will also be reimagined as a co-working space with diverse seating options for employees to come together for a meal or a meeting.
