Stephanie Cunningham

'Vibrant Nation' is a company of women for women. The business commissioned Swope Design Group to transform the second story of a building in Louisville, Kentucky into their new office. Students got a chance to see the design process first hand and come up with a few ideas of their own.

Because the staff was comprised of mostly women I wanted to create a comfortable, feminine environment where workers could feel at home. Violet walls inspire creativity and help combat the starkness of an open office system. Here, you can see the entrance to the CEO's office. Cherry and metallic accents, architectural details, and decadent lighting elevate this plain office into something special.

The real challenge of the project was working with the existing space. Asymmetrical support columns, numerous windows, and strict adherence to the space requirements required careful planning. I hid most of the columns and where I could not they became a part of the design, such as in the CEO's office entryway. I kept the bathrooms central, a convenient location that aids in the fluidity of the floor plan.

Even though this is an office, I wanted to keep the use of bleak fluorescent light fixtures to a minimum. Each cubicle has a blown glass pendant light, while other areas are accented with sconces and chandeliers.