Rio Tinto Regional Center
Interior Remodel
MHTN was posed with the challenge of transforming a progressive open office environment to become more intimate, collaborative, and engaging. Warmth, hierarchy, and modulation of space will be introduced into the existing dense open workstations, covering two floors and approximately 20,000 sf of remodel area. The design strategy will insert collaborative neighborhood centers that act as placemaking points of utility. Each center will place furnishings that respond to the most practical task of each department – i.e. storage, face-to-face meeting, or discussion of displayed information.
Wood veneer overhead cabinets will be added to each workstation, and translucent 5’ high end panels will be added along circulation paths. This step will change the overall character of the work environment to add a level of acoustic softening, and visual screening, while underscoring the sustainable and sophisticated nature of the Rio Tinto corporate identity.
Flexible modules will be added at the core of the floor layout, to maintain current high daylighting levels. The modules will be achieved with demountable partitions, and serve as offices or meeting rooms that require more privacy. A primary goal of this design is to to achieve staff pride in their place of work - so much so, that they will be pleased to show family members where they spend each day.
