October 4, 2022

Words: Carlene Olsen

Photography: © Evan Joseph

Elkus Manfredi Architects Designs an Artful Office Overlooking the Boston Harbor

To refresh a 20-year-old office with sweeping views of the Boston Harbor, Elkus Manfredi Architects took a collaborative approach, soliciting input from the employees who work there. As part of this co-creation process, the design team collected and analyzed data about how employees functioned within AEW Capital Management’s existing office to inform its renovation, from measuring use of office seats to employee input.

Increasing access to natural light proved high on the wish list, as did curating a collection of artwork that energized the space and reflected the company’s ethos. As a means of tackling the former, the team moved private offices toward the center of the updated, two-level floor plan and positioned workstations and collaboration areas near the windows, making harbor views accessible to everyone. The design analysis also made clear that private offices could be downsized, given that these are primarily used for one-on-one meetings, which freed more space for communal areas. “Our research had provided important information that drove the design—information we couldn’t have learned otherwise,” shares Elizabeth Lowrey, principal of Elkus Manfredi Architects.

  • The lobby entrance includes couches for visitors to unwind.
    In the reception lobby, dark metal and concrete flooring, clean-lined leather sofas, a muted area carpet, and floor-to-ceiling sunlit views of Boston Harbor soften the space.
  • The lobby stairs.
    The two levels of the reinvented AEW workplace are connected by a central staircase from the lobby with industrial elements.
  • The boardroom credenza and wall art.
    Book-matched wall veneer at both ends of the lobby space is fumed eucalyptus, rough-cut with a textured finish. The painting over the credenza is by well-known artist Dan Walsh.
  • The boardroom includes a gray wall lined with art.
    The boardroom off of the lobby continues the dialogue between refined and industrial elements highlighted by original artwork.
  • A meeting room with colorful artwork.
    A small meeting room off of the lobby features fumed eucalyptus doors and paintings by artist Dan Walsh.
  • The conference center on Floor 16 offers two large conference rooms with a large central breakout table.
    The conference center on Floor 16 offers two large conference rooms with a large central breakout table. Artwork that was specifically curated for the new headquarters included the HELP Portfolio and reflects AEW’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. HELP represents 16 artists, each of whom donated a new, limited-edition print. All profits from the sale of the prints went to 16 charities that are underfunded due to the pandemic, each one selected by the artists involved.
  • The back porch includes colorful seating and overhead lights.
    AEW employees had the opportunity to customize their neighborhood back porch, choosing comfortable soft seating for casual meetings in one area, an expansive work table in another.
  • The cafe features sweeping sea views.
    Windows on three sides of the Ciao Café flood the space with daylight and views of Boston Harbor.
  • The dining area includes overhead glass pendant lights.
    Layered ribbed glass pendants of varying shapes and sizes define a dining table seating option in the café; behind is casual lounge seating; to the right are different high-top tables and stools.
  • A bright and airy cafe with a spread of food.
    Ciao Café offers healthy food options throughout the day, all made in Ciao’s full kitchen.
  • A woman on a stationary bike in the fitness center.
    The office includes a fitness center outfitted with the latest equipment.
  • The women's locker room features bright orange lockers
    The locker rooms were renovated, expanded, and reimagined using contemporary, spa-like finishes.

As for the artwork, the designers worked with AEW leadership to curate a collection of original, mission-focused pieces, which includes the HELP Portfolio representing 16 artists, each of whom donated a new limited-edition print. All profits from the purchase of the prints went to underfunded charities selected by the artists involved. “What surprised us most was how much AEW’s employees have embraced the art collection, and how integral it has become to their experience,” adds Lowrey. “The AEW employees are saying ‘Look! This is so cool!’ They’re proud of the artwork, they’re owning it, they’re intrigued and engaged by it, they can tell the art’s stories.”

The office features a neutral palette that allows the artwork to pop while creating a dialogue between the industrial accents and modern finishes throughout. The resulting space is comfortable yet sophisticated with a bit of an edge—what other workplace includes communal, employee-customized “back porch” areas with sweeping city views? Not to mention an in-house café illuminated by layered ribbed glass pendants and a fitness center with spalike changing rooms. Every design detail serves a purpose, ensuring employees feel at home while at work.

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