La Comunidad is an advertising agency, specializing in graphic design and animation. They are a young, active, and environmentally-conscious firm, looking to open an office in Brooklyn, New York. The site chosen for their office space is a warehouse building located on Commercial Street, which offers uninterrupted views of the Manhattan skyline through large-scale windows on every floor. The environmental and economic benefits of reusing an existing building rather than opting for new construction are unparalleled.
Because of the location, indoor air quality (IAQ), a connection to nature, and general health of occupants were key issues that this design attempted to address. Substantial amounts of vegetation combat both low IAQ and the negative psychological effects of urbanization. Employee and community health is improved, in part, through raising IAQ, offering walking and bike paths for exercise, and creating an office design that encourages movement and collaboration.
The design for this office aims to consider all areas of sustainable design including but not limited to rainwater harvesting systems, energy- and water- efficient plumbing, local materials, greenhouse gas reduction, optimized daylighting, off-site renewable energy, waste management, and a general contribution to the surrounding environment. The ultimate goal of this project is not only to improve the welfare of the community but also to create a vehicle for the discussion of sustainable design and its growing necessity in the design world.
