Designing for Space

Pluto probe getting on a mission to deliver the unknown next week

 When Beinfield Architecture designs for “space” we have a lot less to worry about than NASA  but the process is still the same: to embrace the agility and aptitude necessary to cycle through  and understand constraints and possibilities. Kayak.com, award winning international online travel  search engine asked us to fit-out an 18,000 sq. ft. commercial space for  their new office headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.

James  Wassell’s rendering of the digital virtual conference center

The challenge was to craft within the shell of the existing 

historic structure a headquarters facility with the goal of providing  brand reinforcement and to empower Kayak to have enhanced connectivity to New York City’s well educated millennial population.

For our architectural intervention we took advantage of the soaring interior space initially designed by James Gamble Rogers and embraced the raw nature of the salvaged building, while referencing air travel, which is at the core of Kayak’s business.

A client request to suspend a used jet fuselage in the hanger like building shell was challenged by the difficulties of getting the aircraft into the historic structure.  Alternatively it was decided to build a new fuselage from within.  

The existing space was adapted to maintain the sense of building as artifact.  Exposed brick, metal and concrete trusses, as well as remnants of the buildings more ornate former life is preserved.  Rooms constructed of metal and glass house
offices and support space. 

A suspended catwalk bridge leading to digital conference center

The fuselage suspended from reinforced trusses houses a digital virtual conference center that connects headquarters to the satellite offices around the world. A suspended catwalk bridge access further emphasizes
the floating nature of the room/object.  
 
Enclosed executive offices are housed on the first floor, while the upper levels are given over to the work stations, collaborative spaces and meeting areas.
 
To maintain an in-progress character, all mechanicals are exposed.  Ductwork rises
through the building from the basement becoming an architectural element in the composition. 
The oval shape of the spiral duct reinforces the aeronautics aesthetic. 

The reception desk was fabricated from re-purposed plane parts.  It’s smooth surface along with polished concrete floors, shiny metal and glass contrast with the rough brick and concrete structure that still shows impressions from its original wooden formwork.  Plywood is used as a cladding element, lending its organic warmth to the space.  

Beinfield Architecture delivered! Let’s see what the Pluto mission brings!   

The reception desk  fabricated from re-purposed plane parts

The New Horizons Pluto mission will help us understand worlds at the edge of our solar system by making
the first reconnaissance of the dwarf planet Pluto and by venturing deeper into the distant, mysterious
Kuiper Belt – a relic of solar system formation. 

Beinfield Design Tour | North American Power

Here's another great recent project from Beinfield Architecture PC. Welcome to your design tour of the North American Power Headquarters!

North American Power is one of the fastest growing companies in the State of Connecticut. They provide sustainable energy solutions and offer competitive rates to customers, all while supporting many worthwhile charitable organizations through their Mission to Millions program. Passion, drive, and forward thinking have enabled founders Kerry and Carey to create this successful energy company with a solid idea:

Great things happen when you give individuals the power to change the world around them.

And that's the perspective Beinfield Architecture, and design team member, Corporate Design LLC,

built upon when conceiving this amazing new office space.

 

This fast growing powerhouse wanted new offices to reflect their principles as well as their success in the energy industry. Beinfield Architecture and Corporate Design have given them space that will attract the hard-working, innovative talent they seek in employees by creating a cool and comfortable work environment. At the same time, these offices are professional and impressive for hosting established industry corporations coming to Norwalk to strategize the future of solar and wind power.

This sustainable energy company's space relies heavily on the use of recycled materials. 

The living wall, which spans the length of the office, hosts plant life providing oxygen and a great view enhancing the office environment.

The antique oak walls are reclaimed wood while the use of sustainable materials are evident throughout the project.

 Wouldn't you love to work in a place like this every day?

Photos by Michele Scotto | Sequined Asphault Studio Photography

Beinfield Designs KAYAK.com's Incredible Stamford Headquarters

Beinfield Architecture PC recently had the privilege of working with KAYAK.com, the leading travel search engine on the Internet, on their new Stamford, Connecticut headquarters. The concept and the final product are fantastic!

Mark P. Goodwin, AIA led the design team in the conversion of the abandoned south side Police Station.  Located on Market Street, in the heart of the neighborhood that's quickly becoming the Brooklyn of Fairfield County, this project was destined to be cool.

The glass enclosed conference room sits beneath the jet fuselage constructed inside of the space. Incredible, right?

The open catwalk above connects the upper level work areas, and the design's use of glass creates a completely transparent office environment while maintaining distinct uses of space.

The steel framework, exposed brick, and jet fuselage are referential of the building's origins and the fantastic innovations of the travel and transportation industries.

It's clear KAYAK is continuing on it's own path of innovation with this space. What an amazing opportunity to work there each day! The Beinfield Team was honored to design this great new addition to the Stamford South End community.

Photos by Robert Benson Photography

A Sneak Peek...

The inside of the future headquarters of Kayak.com is reminiscent of the "bones" of an airplane fuselage. Apropos, no?

On the Boards | Entrance Gallery





Compelling renderings are flowing out of the back office over here at Beinfield Architecture. We thought we'd offer you a taste of the creativity!

Volo Aviation helps you with your AIA Continuing Education Credits

photography by Michele Scotto Trani

EXTECH/Exterior Technologies, Inc. sponsored this article called, "Translucent Cellular Polycarbonate Delivers Design Versatility" on Architectural Record's Continuing Education site. Beinfield's award-winning project Volo Aviation was featured as a case study. The article also appeared in the August/September SNAP magazine. Check it out at the link above and earn yourself a credit.

We've included some different photos of the project here that we think represent EXITECH's polycarbonate product well. Especially the night versus day facade views above.

Check out Beinfield Architecture's spread in Architecture Leaders Today!

There's a great Beinfield Architecture spread in the July/August issue of Architecture Leaders Today!

We are honored and thrilled to have several of our most recent projects featured in the magazine, and we'd love for you to check them out. With Volo Aviation, a new home in an idyllic orchard, the Stepping Stones Museum for Children, and Tappo Restaurant, there's a wide range of our work and influence. It's really exciting when all that hard work comes together in one place.

You can access the online version of Architecture Leaders Today through ISUU right here (and you'll find us if you skip ahead to page 55).

It's bustling around these parts...

We've been busy making architecture. And these renderings are for one of the South Norwalk community projects we hold close to our hearts.  Thanks Eric, of Eric Rains Landscape Architecture, for putting together this beautiful announcement to herald the municipal approval of a major redevelopment in our neighborhood, 20 North Water Street.

Congratulations to Volo and the Beinfield Team for their latest Design Award!

We received great news this week! Beinfield Architecture was a recipient of the Connecticut AIA's 2012 Business in Architecture Award. We'd like to thank our client, Volo Aviation, the vector for visionaries, for allowing us to work with them to create this incredible space.

This award is especially close to our hearts because as the AIA explains, it:

demonstrates the power of architecture to shape business performance, to improve peoples' lives and provide a value added service to clients in a business setting that far exceeds the costs of that service.



photos by Michele Scotto Trani



Beinfield Designs the First Inclusionary Zoning Project in Darien



745 Post Road | Rendering: Beinfield Architecture PC


The project, located at 745 Post Road, and developed by David Genovese and Penny Glassmeyer, will be the first project in Darien to achieve the 2009 Zoning regulations requiring at least a 12% affordable housing component for buildings exceeding 5 housing units.  

According to the October 13th article on The Darien Times front page, the Town of Darien as a whole is at "approximately 2.4% affordable housing stock."  You can check out the full article here.

Beinfield keeps building around SoNo

There's been tons of action going on over at the 95/7 Parcel in South Norwalk, CT, known as District 95/7 SoNo.  But now that Planning and Zoning has approved the first phase of the project, the ball is really rolling!

Check out this article for more information on the District 95/7 SoNo project.

Check out Beinfield's new face on Facebook. And 'like' us while you're over there.

Click here to visit and 'Like' us on Facebook.

Stepping Stones Museum for Children and Beinfield Architecture Receive GOLD LEED Certification

Congratulations to the entire Project Team!  Stepping Stones Museum for Children has earned the coveted ranking of LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council! 

The Museum says they "garnered LEED Gold certification because of the solar panels, "green" roof, wind turbine, use of recycled materials throughout the building and [their] focus on related educational stewardship."  The design and program also include energy efficient lighting, storm water management, and a food court offering locally grown, organic produce.

Stepping Stones is now one of only 3 public buildings in the State of Connecticut to achieve the LEED Gold certification.  In case you didn't already know, LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

Beinfield Architecture is incredibly proud to be part of this groundbreaking project.

Beinfield wins AIA CT Design Award for Volo!

You'll remember how proud we are of our new Fixed Base of Operations for Volo Aviation.  Well, the Connecticut Chapter of the American Institute of Architects has announced Beinfield and the Volo project as recipients of a 2010 Design Award for Excellence!

Volo Aviation: A colaboration with visionaries

We are very proud of our recently completed FBO (Fixed Base of Operations) for Volo Aviation, The Vector for Visionaries, based out of Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

images by Michele Scotto