A Collection of Experiences: Buckingham Companies
A full-service real estate firm, Buckingham Companies was faced with both a challenge and an opportunity. The growing firm was quickly running out of functional space, providing an ideal location to right-size and relocate space in a refreshed environment.
Making an impact
With the projects Buckingham develops, builds, and manages, the firm places a high priority on creativity and distinction. Their own renovation was no exception.
A visit to the OfficeWorks showroom allowed Buckingham to test and select pieces that best fit their office layout, budget requirements, and desired aesthetic. Lauren Baker, interior designer at Buckingham, said Herman Miller’s Canvas Vista workstation stood out to the project team.
“It’s a new product with architectural lines that were different than anything else we had looked at,” Lauren said. “As a company that develops real estate, values great design, and has a distinct culture, we wanted to give our people the bells and whistles they deserve while creating a unique look and feel.”
An eye for the iconic
Buckingham is located in the Stokely Van Camp building, constructed in the 1920s with a striking white terra cotta exterior. After the firm’s in-house construction group navigated exploratory demolition, Buckingham chose to expose the steel beams throughout the space, adding to its character and showing the history of the building.
According to Rhonda Sylvester, account executive at OfficeWorks, the furniture Buckingham selected “reinforces the lofty, urban aesthetic of the interiors.” Timeless pieces from MillerKnoll —the Eames Lounge Chair, Crosshatch Chair, and ColourForm Sofa—take center stage in a lounge that bridges the refreshed area with the existing space on the third floor.
“Buckingham couldn’t have made better furniture selections,” Rhonda said. “The decisions they made fit both their iconic building and the firm’s unique culture and character. As you walk through the office, it’s evident that they pay attention to details and to the relationships between everything and everyone in the space. It was a delight to work with team members who are so appreciative and well versed in the history of their furniture.”
Fostering positive experiences
From providing renderings for desking solutions to quickly accommodating design changes, Lauren said OfficeWorks provided a seamless process that made her job easier.
“The turnaround time was impeccable and the experience was wonderful,” Lauren said. “I’m thankful to OfficeWorks and all of the project team members for their hard work and attention to detail, because it shows. Their ability to collaborate and pull this together is really special, and we should all be proud of what we have achieved.”
The project was completed in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, so Buckingham introduced a staggered schedule that allows team members to take advantage of the new space, safely.
“I can’t wait until everyone is fully back in the office,” Lauren said. “While the third floor houses our construction and development departments, our intent is for it to be a bridge for everyone to collaborate and engage with one another. With everything going on in the world today, our new space is a light for people to come home to.”
Project Team
Developer: Buckingham Companies
Contractor: Buckingham Construction Corporation
Interior Architecture and Design: Axis Architecture
