DESIGNWORKS 2020

Innovation Center at Optimist Hall

Charlotte, NC

Gensler Charlotte

The Innovation Center at Optimist Hall is a dynamic workspace where project teams craft new, customer-focused experiences, that will provide growth for the future of this Confidential Energy Client. Located in a 130-year-old textile mill, the design team respected the historic fabric, while adding new elements to create an open workplace. Traditional windows, exposed wood floors, and white painted ceilings honor the historical nature of the space, while refreshing its look.

This Confidential Energy Client is both a legacy company and industry disruptor due to their unique approaches to energy products and services. The space takes on an active presence that ignites the imagination and provides teams with choice, flexibility, and purpose. With no traditional core, a large gathering place is located in the center with bleacher seating, bringing everyone together and accommodating outside events. The multi-purpose space supports a variety of work modes and is separated into three main sections of the space. The “loft” is a place for thought and discovery, and where teams can collaborate together. The “garage space” is comprised of long, skinny, rectangular rooms that are used for creative brainstorming, and war rooms used to work on extended projects. The “factory” is the largest component of the design, and is a place where teams spend their time working in clusters of bench workstations.

At the Innovation Center, big ideas are encouraged, cross-collaboration is unavoidable, and failing fast and often – while learning from the experience – is supported as part of the breakthrough innovation