Step Inside Power Home Remodeling’s New Phoenix Space By CRTKL

Power Home Remodeling’s updated space by CRTKL offers a snapshot into the future of the office, reflecting the goal of creating an engaging, collaborative environment.

Across the United States, CRTKL is transforming Power Home Remodeling’s offices into active social hubs designed to enhance the employee experience and boost team morale. The design concept for each of Power’s new offices is inspired by its surrounding location, yet grounded by the foundational concepts of modern, industrial, and natural elements. Located in Phoenix, Arizona is Power’s flagship location for the Western U.S. The design for their Phoenix location was inspired by the Southwestern craftsmanship found throughout Arizona. The design team created an environment that layered textures and utilized natural materials, while still maintaining an industrial feel.

One of Power Home Remodeling’s main goals for their new offices is to attract top talent and motivate current employees to be proud of the work they do and the company they are a part of. Employees spend the majority of their days out in the field, so the office was made to support the need for large company meeting spaces, training rooms, and team building activities. CRTKL helped achieve these goals by providing a highly branded and engaging space with many gathering areas for employees and an office that evokes an energetic and collaborative environment.

CRTKL pulled inspiration from landscape elements traditionally found in desert climates and turned them into unique features throughout the space. Upon entry, guests and employees are greeted by a large custom gabion wall, traditionally used in landscape design as a retaining wall made of steel wiring and filled with local rocks. Highlighting the craftsmanship style of Arizona, a custom rope chandelier hangs above the reception desk to create a warm and inviting space. Terracotta breeze blocks were brought indoors as a visual separation between the reception and café lounge area.

Photography credit: Garrett Rowland

Project Planning

At the beginning of the project, CRTKL hosted a workshop with the heads of departments for their input on the concept and overall look and feel. From there, CRTKL worked closely with their in-house branding department to develop a roll-out brand strategy for the new offices. Additionally, CRTKL conducted observation studies at existing Power offices and observed an all hands sales training meeting to understand the energy of the company and their daily workflow. The Power Home Remodeling c-suite was involved early on in the initial concept development, space planning, and brand strategy.

The design team strived to create a concept and design that embodies Power’s brand with influences of local Arizona aesthetic and culture. Taking inspiration from traditional landscape design in desert climates, CRTKL turned these ideas into unique feature elements in the space. For example, the design team was inspired by traditional Southwestern patterns, taking the motif of different scaled triangles and using them throughout the space, in the café’s custom Luxury Vinyl Tile inset flooring and custom acoustical wood ceiling element. Featured in reception is a large custom rope chandelier fixture that embodies the Southwestern, handmade feel of local artisans in Arizona.

Products

• LVT Pattern in Café: Mannington Amtico – Wood Collection – Cornish Oak – Custom Layout Pattern Cubist
• LVT Pattern in Coffee Nook: Mannington Amtrico – Abstract Collection – Cornish Oak, Glint Orb & Glint Void – Custom Pattern created by CRTKL
• Large Conference Room carpet: Shaw Contract – Haven – Familiar Tile – Apricot 35675
• Interview Room carpet tile: Flor – American Treasure – Wheat
• Reception area rug: Flor – On The Road Again – Spice
• Wood Ceiling in Café: ACGI/Armstrong – Encore Series 6 Suspension Series 5 Wood Ceiling – Custom design by CRTKL
• Café Breeze Block wall: Stone Source – Celosia

Project Details

Power Home Remodeling’s employees spend the majority of their days out in the field, so the office was made to support the need for large company meeting spaces, training rooms, and team building activities. The overarching goal was for the office to become a place for employees to recharge, bond with their team, let loose, get excited about the work they do and remind them of their purpose.

Design and branding specialists worked closely with the Power’s Brand department to create a space that embodies Power’s unique culture and brand vision. The design team and internal brand specialists hosted a visioning workshop with Power’s key stakeholders to develop the foundational design concept. The design team also conducted user experience (UX) studies and developed a customer and employee journey through the space. The office was designed to be a highly branded and unique space that represents Power Home Remodeling’s culture.

The Power Home Remodeling space features conference rooms, training rooms, small open breakout areas, and interview rooms within the office. There also is a café lounge, game room, video game room, outdoor terrace, craftsmanship academy (installers workshop), and demo house (mini house to display and demonstrate Power products).

The conference rooms within the office are one of the more unique features of the space as they are designed to compliment the employees’ high-energy user experience. Power uses music as a sensory element as employees enter and exit conference rooms to set the tone for the day’s goals. As a way to reinforce the company’s values, words and phrases physically appear on the wall — all made possible by intentional technology choices built into the design. CRTKL’s design incorporates branding elements and lighting design synced to the beat of the music. As the music changes, the lighting and audio visual technology changes to enhance the experience and build-up excitement for the meeting.

Overall Project Results

A challenge the design team faced during the build was converting an existing old warehouse into an energy efficient building. This challenge required an entire new electrical and mechanical system, updates to the entire roof and building envelope, including all new insulation and new openings into the tilt-wall panels.

In the beginning of construction, the CRTKL design team worked closely with the client and the General Contractor (GC) to come up with significant value engineering ideas without sacrificing the original design intent. During construction when lead time issues arose, the design team assisted the GC in finding alternates that still worked with the design. Throughout the project, the design team worked closely with the GC and structural engineer on the production of the gabion wall and custom freestanding pavilion. The challenge the design team faced was maintaining the design aesthetic while providing the required structural support for these feature elements. Additionally, the design and branding specialists worked closely with the Power’s Brand department to create a space that embodies Power’s unique culture and brand vision.

Project Summary

• Architect: CRTKL
• MEP: MSA
• Contractor: Jokake
• Furniture Dealer: American Office