As the anchor tenant to the vibrant revitalized Electric Works campus in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana, the new Do it Best Corp. global headquarters had to be more than just an office building. It had to spark a spirit and promote Do it Best’s mission to make the best even better.
Do it Best chose Building 26 of the sprawling campus to transform into its new home, and the substantial yet neglected industrial building awoke a daring creativity in the design team. To create a headquarters fitting of a diverse company driven to innovate through collaboration, work began to design an imaginative showcase workplace to accommodate 550 staff members in a variety of modern office concepts while celebrating the historical features of the building.
The design team, challenged to provide all necessary design services, including acoustical analysis, audio/visual integration, furniture planning, and lighting design, sought to establish dedicated spaces for varied operational functions throughout the building. A collaboration mezzanine was created for team members to grow, and work cafes were included on each floor to recharge. An event space and a board room with a local flair welcome the community, while centers for media production, information technology, printing and mailing, data, and visual display allow the work to get done and done well.
The design kept all structural components raw and unpainted to honor the building’s history. Several custom displays featuring the history of Do it Best, including history tools, a wall dedicated to retirees, a map ceiling featuring the original and current headquarter locations, and word walls were created to highlight the culture of the organization.
The new Do it Best Corp. global headquarters, born within the lively Electric Works district of innovation, energy, and culture, delivers on the company’s promise to, indeed, do it best.
