As companies seek to entice employees with better workplace amenities, office building owners are supporting the effort by elevating the level of exclusive services made available to their tenants. Workplaces do not just aid business. Now, they better people’s lifestyles and provide an experience not found at home. The owners of the high-end, multi-tenant office building Fox Tower, located in downtown Portland, came to us with the goal of converting an unused, hard-to-lease space into a one-of-a-kind, multifunctional lounge amenity for their tenants.
Appropriately called the Green Room, this shared space is where employees can hang out, like its theatre namesake—and its interior design is inspired by verdant tropical destinations. The “staycation” theme promotes warmth and wellness even during grey winters. With vibrant accents and raw materiality, the lounge evokes a sense of regrowth and new life from old structures. Beautifully neutral earth tones complement textural washes and handcrafted light fixtures to make the space feel inviting and laidback. Terracotta, sage green, and mustard yellow colors flavor the artwork, wallpaper, soft furniture, and rugs. Bold, simple lines and shapes keep the aesthetics modern.
We infused lightheartedness, incorporating unexpected details: hanging rattan chairs, terrazzo, and monkey sconces and wallpaper. Located on the 25th floor, the Green Room’s large windows offer panoramic views of downtown to the West Hills. Daylight shines through the central space divider made of hanging manila ropes. Since this is a communal amenity, our team designed multiple zones. Seating areas allow for communal dining or one-on-one meetings. The mini bar is perfect for happy hours. The shuffleboard and TV lounge create opportunities for employees to decompress. A private bookable room, with space for catered meals, can host small group gatherings.
The Green Room complements tenants’ individual suites in Fox Tower. Creating this amenity recognizes that changing work patterns and smaller offices need attractive, multifunctional shared spaces to uplift employees. We traveled beyond what is expected of a Class A office building, designing a tropical staycation inspired experience that addresses our client’s business demands.