Outside the Region: Vocon honored with two design awards from NAIOP Northern Ohio

Cleveland, OH According to NAIOP Northern Ohio, Vocon will receive two awards for its design efforts in 2017: Office Interior Renovation Design of the Year for the redesign of Dealer Tire’s regional headquarters, and Office Interior Design of the Year for its design of Compass’ regional headquarters in San Francisco, CA.

“We are honored to receive these awards from NAIOP,” said Debbie Donley, founder and principal at Vocon. “It is deeply satisfying to help advance the missions of companies like Compass and Dealer Tire by creating dynamic environments that enable employees and clients to achieve their goals.” 

Dealer Tire, one of the largest distributors of tires and maintenance products in the U.S., planned to relocate to a larger space due to its growing staff and business. The tire company sought to renovate the existing building and design a collaborative workplace with an open office layout.

The Vocon design team achieved this by creating a Dealer Tire innovation hub on the main floor of the property, which included a fitness area and a walking track to enable employees to escape the day-to-day workplace setting and gain a fresh perspective. Vocon increased the natural lighting and placed collaboration zones on the sides of each floor plan for increased interaction, productivity and creativity.

To soften interior and exterior noise, the design firm worked with an acoustic consultant to insulate exposed ceilings and install acoustical tiles, which are essential to reduce noise and ensure a positive work environment for the staff. Keeping in mind Dealer Tire’s brand promise, the Vocon team fashioned a tire-shaped reception desk along with various other tire-related components throughout the office. 

Overlooking San Francisco Bay, the 13,000 s/f Compass regional headquarters is part of the landmark Ghirardelli Square in the Fisherman’s Wharf area of the city. Compass, a revolutionary real estate brokerage firm, sought a design strategy for the space that was distinct to the location and that felt more like home and less like a common office prototype. 

The Vocon design team achieved this through unique interior design and furniture elements, and also by telling a story through the organization, forms, proportion and relationships of spaces. Vocon’s design promotes socialization, relaxation and communication by positioning areas for informal lounges and spontaneous meetings. The design concept integrates the Compass brand and aesthetic with a sense of neighborhood by preserving original building materials, including masonry, warehouse windows, concrete floors and metal accents. 

Vocon also created an exclusive design element for the space with a large-scale, suspended ceiling installation suggestive of the Compass logo. The design feature hangs over a lounge space located in the open work area. The installation accommodates multiple viewing points and creates an analog lenticular, reading one way from one direction and another way from a different direction.