AO Smith recently initiated a project to renovate three floors of their corporate office building in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. The primary goal was to enhance employee satisfaction and instill company pride by creating an environment that fosters improved workflow, productivity, and creativity. AO Smith emphasized a desire to modernize their office space interiors, while still honoring the traditional aesthetic that has been cultivated throughout its storied history.
The office space was to remain occupied during construction. To maintain regular operations, the remodeling was carried out one floor at a time, with staff temporarily relocated to the other two floors.
AO Smith’s uncommon 20” x 50” acoustic ceiling tile was used throughout the existing space. Replacing all the tiles would have incurred significant costs. As a solution, existing tiles were utilized as much as possible, with new light fixtures carefully specified to fit within the old tile framework. Existing tiles were salvaged and reused where viable, with new tiles sparingly used as statement pieces in fully refurbished areas.
Aesthetically, the challenge was to modernize the office while preserving some of the existing base construction. Wood doors were refinished and generally retained in place. Existing outlets and electrical systems were kept intact, complemented by new lighting fixtures.
