Commercial Work Samples

Christine Watts

Media Presentations Office Project

As a sophomore studio project we were commissioned to design a veterinary clinic encompassed in fifty by sixty foot space incorporating a mezzanine. We were to develop a concept and implement it within our space. I was inspired by this love and devotion people have for their pets, drawing from this the concept words of expansive, buoyant, and joy. To illustrate my concept I chose to use a complimentary color scheme of blue and orange and curvilinear shapes. Blue has a calming effect while orange tends to be a bit brighter and has been shown to increase immunity system in small increments. Another factor in my color decision was the visible spectrum for both dogs and cats; dogs tend to see blues and yellows, bypassing the warmer end of the color spectrum whereas cats see warmer colors, such as oranges and browns so the colors of the clinic are visible to all of its visitors. This is also an effort to ensure that the animals also feel a sense of calm by ensuring that the animals are seeing an organized pattern of color instead of random patterns. These bright colors are meant to lighten the atmosphere and distract the owners from their worries. These colors are carried throughout the space, though the intensity of the color is lessened so as not to cause a distraction to the clinic’s employees. Elements from the reception area are echoed throughout the rest of the space; the exam rooms and animal housing both have the orange tile from as their borders and the treatment area has a half circle of blue tile that imitates the color and circular forms in the reception area. Curvilinear and circular shapes are there to create a sense of continuation to make the space feel expansive. The front façade is a curved form with 8’ windows that allow for plenty of natural light to brighten up the 20’ ceiling in the reception area. This shape is echoed in the mezzanine, which overlooked the reception area and featured a railing with circular shapes. As a way to address the acoustical problems of the high ceiling I placed circular drop-down lighting to help absorb the sound, and the shape mimics the broken circle of the seating.

Pet owners always seem to get a particular look about them when they talk about their pets; this look communicates so much about that person, bypassing everything else in their lives letting you look right into their heart. In exposing so much of themselves, it seems an important to protect that aspect of their lives. When they need to take care of their animals, their pets, their helpers, they should be allowed to go to a place where their stress is lessened.

Yips and Purrs Veterinary Care

In speaking to the employees Volvo Trucks North America Plant in Dublin VA, generally the feedback was that the space felt dated and obsolete; with its grey canvas workstations and grey-tinted blue carpeting surrounded by a sea of white walls, this is a perfectly valid assessment. What I intend to do with the space is bring in the polarizing ideals of technology and nature together into a sleek, clean, cohesive whole melding the two into a space that encompasses Volvo’s dedication to the environment and quality. The core of this concept is the mixing of the hard and soft, the harshness of the industrial with the softness of personalization. This is illustrated through the different curves incorporated throughout the space, illustrating the sense of smoothness. However, these curves differ in their slope, breaking up the feel and keeping it from becoming monotonous and ineffective in terms of effect. The curve is an important motif carried through the cork inlays of the floor as well as the furniture, particularly in the conference tables. Though many of the materials illustrate the smoothness of technology, the subtle textures help create a contrast, making the smoothness just a little off and encouraging the view of the space to continue and explore. I chose a cool color scheme comprising of blues and grays with smooth surfaces. While the surfaces and colors reflect cool technology, the smooth, curvilinear forms in the space are broken up by sprawling pothos plants. These plants are first introduced in the reception area then again in the visitor reception. The planter in the visitor reception contains living plants while the soffit shelf contains faux plants that look realistic but require no waterto survive. The sharp shape of the room itself contrasts to the curved display and planter in the center of the room The visitor reception opens up on both sides to the open work areas, the light color of the cork continuing just beyond the reception area. In the work area the cork becomes a darker brown tint, carrying through that naturalistic aspect without bombarding the client with obvious natural elements. The floors are all cork, though they’re made to appear as wood; cork is more sustainable than wood or carpeting, while still allowing for better acoustics. These aisleways facilitate a circular path of travel throughout the space, allowing traffic to flow easily through the space down the center aisles as well as the aisles surrounding thedepartments. The workstations in this area are similar to the ones currently in place, but with a more modern look: the panels are lower and they include glass panes on their ends instead of a canvas panel that would block them off from the rest of the office. The lower panels as well as the glass windows encourage cooperation among the employees instead of blocking them off into their private spaces. Covered with sleek grey laminates and glass bring a modern look into the workstations. The work stations are covered with a simple grey laminate, drawing the eye towards the textures of the floor and the plants placed in the filing planters.. Different workstations were specified for different departments, depending on the privacy needs of the department, the stations ranging from very open and cooperative to more private. The furniture specified tended to be more curvilinear in nature and incorporating some sort of curve, from the Eames tables specified for the open conference areas, the boatshaped tables in the standard conference rooms, and to the aside chairs. This repetition of the curve contrasts to the cubicles and streamlined pattern in the cork flooring, a contrast that is emphasized by the lack of texture given to these surfaces and upholsteries. The light grey flooring is inlaid in strategic places around the office, leading people through the space from the visitor’s reception and around the office. The light gray cork is introduced first in the visitor reception and continues just outside the area in a gentle curve. People tendto follow patterns that they’re given, and so this flooring is repeated to lead people through the office. Overall, the new Volvo Trucks office space conveys a cleaner, smoother combination of technology and nature, conveyed through the materials and shapes shown throughout the space. The colors and textures create a natural feel while their application and contrast to the smooth shapes create of tension between the two themes that come together to a sleek and professional space

Volvo Trucks North America Office Project

Volvo Plant Floor Plan