How a Residential Designer Turned this UFC Gym into a Business Headquarters for Her Client

Element Design Network transformed an old gym into a new HQ for Builders Paving in Hillside, Illinois. 

Builders Paving was quickly outgrowing their former offices and selected a former UFC gym to be the headquarters to their expanding business. Architect Oscar Ibarra of Batir was hired to transform the space into a refined corporate office with the help of Laura Chappetto Flynn of Element Design Network and Jeff Meltzer of Applied Ergonomics.

What was once an open warehouse-type building was transformed into two floors of functional spaces for this growing company with a focus on refined design.  Although Builders Paving is a commercial asphalt paving company, the overall look of the headquarters is elevated and thoughtful with a design that boasts intentional finish selections that lend to a high end overall aesthetic. 

The vision and design is one of the most unique features in this project. The attention to the design detail for an otherwise utilitarian industry is quite impressive. The president of Builders Asphalt is forward-thinking and wanted an exceptionally clean, modern look. Materials that mimic the earth were used to reflect the materials the business is tied to and paired with white walls and bright LED lighting to create the modern look. The team took inspiration from Scandinavian design, pairing warm woods and clean lines with light neutral colors to create a clean, minimalist look that focuses on functionality. The addition of blue accents is a nod to the company’s signature color ‘Builders Blue’. 

An emphasis on the employee experience is found throughout the space. All work stations were created with adjustable height bases to accommodate anyone who prefers to work at a standing desk for a portion of their workday. The beautifully designed and fully stocked break room was of utmost importance to the president and his wife. Having a fun space where employees can come and play a quick game of ping pong during lunch or sit and share a beer after work encourages the team to build camaraderie. 

Project Planning

After completing the President of the company’s personal home and becoming quite familiar with their design preferences, designer Laura Chappetto Flynn of Element Design Network was brought in to reflect their personal design style at the Builder’s Paving headquarters. Laura worked closely with the president and his wife along with Jeff Meltzer of Applied Ergonomics to create the perfect aesthetic for the Builders offices.

The employees were very much involved with what they wanted to see in the break room. A full kitchen, stocked refrigerator, wine and beer cooler, tv’s and a ping pong table were included in the design. The result is a space where the employees gather often.

Project Details

The Applied Ergonomics team designed and provided all of the furniture to embed sophistication into the workspaces with a focus on  top-tier ergonomic-centric furniture used throughout the facility, ergoFocus.

The reception area features an MDD series reception desk with gleaming LED accent lights, imported from Poland. The clean look and white laminate of the reception desk was paired with custom-built matching mail sorters for the staff. The seating area takes advantage of the great design lines, aesthetics, and value of the Kimber series by Paul Brayton Designs, a favorite of Applied Ergonomics team, paired with Ekitta.

Products 

Construction: Bentley Mills, EF Contract, Shaw Contract, Daltile, Porcelanosa, Garden State Tile, Gilasi, PureEdge Lighting, OCL, SPI Lighting, Rejuvenation, Restoration Hardware, Shades of Light, Offect

Furniture: ergoFocus, Arcadia Contract, Artopex, Boss Design, Ekitta, HAG by Flokk, Humanscale, Keilhauer, Krug, Martin Brattrud, Mobilia, Paul Brayton, Rouillard, Source International, Tayco, Via Seating. Upholsteries by Architex, Arc-Com, Brentano, Concertex, and Momentum.

Overall Project Results

The employees are thrilled with their new offices. They often gather after work to celebrate birthdays or big accomplishments. Builders also hosts company events, inviting employees’ families to join in on the celebrations. Having a space that encourages the team to meet with each other in a fun, relaxed atmosphere has improved their overall work morale.

Design Team

• Laura Chappetto Flynn, Element Design Network
• Jeff Meltzer, Applied Ergonomics

Photography

• Jared Powell photography