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A company’s space reflects the image and uniqueness of its brand, and creates a dynamic environment for working. When Newton-based Continuum launched their new brand, they transformed a 10-year old space into one that reflected the evolution of their business. Continuum is an international design firm focused on product design, brand and strategy development. The staff of more than 100 designers, engineers and strategists had plenty of their own ideas about how to create a modern, dynamic structure with more space to collaborate and more area to display the process, the people and results of their work. Commodore Builders joined Continuum for 26 weeks, working closely with both the client and the architect, Sasaki, to design and renovate the two-story, 43,000 square foot converted mill building.   

Continuum began the process by conducting a thorough search for the right architect. They were looking for an organic synergy and found it with Sasaki. “They felt right to us,” explains John Costello, Industrial Designer and Continuum’s Project Manager. Costello and his team considered 10 firms before selecting Sasaki.

Together, Continuum and Sasaki conducted workshops with key stakeholders to identify what the new space should look like and how it should feel. They explored the elements of the space that were currently working and identified chronic problems that needed fixing. According to Costello, “We talked about the kind of space that would help us work better together and work better with our clients. From the start we viewed this initiative as more than just a cool new space. It’s a marketing and a business tool.” 

Continuum is driven by strategy and design and nearly everyone in the organization was interested in the aesthetics and functionality of the space. The workshops helped build the trust with staff members that was necessary to form a foundation for successful collaboration. When it was time to choose a Construction Management firm, Costello once again considered chemistry in his selection. “Commodore was picked because they expressed genuine enthusiasm for our project. We had a history together, they’re a local company and they showed us great work. Getting them involved in the process sooner than later was very helpful.” 

Because of the occupied nature of the construction, members of Continuum’s executive team initially expected that the construction process would take a year to complete, but Commodore was able to develop a schedule that allowed for completion of the work in just 26 weeks.  

The first challenge was to solidify a design that met functional and aesthetic requirements and could be built for the budget. An extensive pre-construction process yielded positive results. The next challenge was to complete the renovation with no disruption to Continuum’s business. The renovation would take place in three phases, in the fully-occupied space. For much of the construction, no more than a temporary partition separated staff from construction. The Commodore team came to know employees by name, and knew conference room schedules and daily routines as well as any Continuum employee.  

Because the building remained fully occupied and operating, the three phases required careful move coordination and frequent building inspections. Power to the server rooms supporting overseas offices remained uninterrupted. Constant communication and ready access to both architect and client allowed for rapid decisions in the field. Floor plans were displayed in the lobby so staff always knew what was coming next and when things might get a little noisy.

A signature element of the new design is the seven foot wide interconnecting grand stair. Construction of the stair required the relocation of every major utility in the building and revealed a second floor that once functioned as the roof of the building. The stair integrates the company’s three practices and creates an atrium punctuated with dramatic skylights. The new design is upscale industrial, simple and modern with polished concrete retro-plated floors, open studios, exposed ceilings and millwork made of natural processed wheat on pressed recycled board. Large windows, skylights and etched glass conference room walls allow views across the entire studio space. Low desks with minimal dividers convey a clean, polished look.  

While the number of closed offices has decreased, the amount of shared space has significantly increased. Conference rooms and project team rooms have been designed with floor to ceiling white board and cork board walls to encourage brainstorming sessions. According to Kerry Emberly, a member of the communications team at Continuum, “We’re a design and innovation consultancy. Our space needs to fit us and what we do. This new space is more indicative of our work, our style, and our values.” 

Elements of the new Continuum brand appear throughout the building, with accents of the signature orange and a dramatic wall of sweeping orange adjacent to the staircase. 

For Emberly and her colleagues, the new space captures the rebirth of Continuum’s brand. “The space has brought our team closer together. It’s brought a renewed energy to an office that employees are proud of.  The launch of Continuum’s new brand and the completion of our new space have unveiled a new philosophy: ‘Get to the right idea and make it real.’”