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KMA'S New office featured in Buildings Magazine

05/21/2014
No private offices were included in this layout for KMA Architecture.

Small nooks provide areas to collaborate in addition to a central conference room. Screens provide visual privacy between workstations.

Situated in a renovated military barracks, this 4,000-square-foot space has a little of everything – conference rooms, casual seating areas, and benching. What’s not present is a single private office.

“This layout enabled the open office model we had been trying to achieve in our former space,” says Rich Guerena, senior associate and project architect for KMA Architecture.

Height-adjustable workstations provide generous space for KMA’s nine employees while screens offer visual privacy. Touchdown areas and drafting tables are placed along a bank of large windows for optimal natural light.

Demountable walls create areas for storage, printing, and teamwork. Even the conference room is subject to the open office concept, with its top walls lower than the ceiling. Carpet tiles help to maintain suitable acoustic levels in the space.

Thermal comfort is aided by operable windows and mechanical ventilation, as a traditional cooling system isn’t needed for this San Diego office. The firm plans to install low velocity ceiling fans in the future.

“Most of us are LEED accredited professionals, so we love being in a historic building that’s repurposed. Being able to have a sustainable space was a big draw for us,” explains Tim Rubesh, principal.