First impressions are powerful. And not only for people, but for buildings and brands too! Lobby spaces help companies make those early impressions, designed to create a sense of place, inspire a feeling or mood. It’s an opportunity for organizations to shape a visitor’s experience and impact workers who fill the office every day. It’s territory we craft with intention.
A sizeable mural greets arrivals at our ninth-floor suite in the Norton Building. We reimagine the canvases twice a year, beginning with a blank slate. Countless designs have been conceived; we’ve pinned our favorite spots on a map of Seattle, magnified exceptional details of our most treasured projects, and have asked our colleagues to reflect on their inspirations and share what being an engineer means to them.
This round, we aimed to inspire creativity and share a message of camaraderie and connection. And we tapped in-house talent to do it! In a previous Connection article, we highlighted hobbies and out-of-office activities. We reflected on our diverse interests, personalities and skill sets that make up the fabric of Coughlin Porter Lundeen. We tapped into a theme bigger than work or our current project list, commissioning our own Molly Gentry. A talented illustrator, she is often spotted doodling on her digital drawing pad during breaks.
Molly designed a black and white icon-based illustration that features items, elements and objects that represent Coughlin Porter Lundeen and the greater Pacific Northwest (PNW). Icons range from mementos specific to our office culture and projects (shuffleboard table, T9 calculators, a cat for Garo, shrimp for Bryan) to general AEC and PNW themes (crane, protective gear, ferry, mountains). It’s a playful invitation for staff and visitors to color in their favorites and sends a clear message of “we’re working together, and each making our small contribution to something great!”
Molly offers us a glimpse into her design process, its evolution and what the outcome means to her: