Design Collaborative – Fort Wayne Office Renovation

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Design Collaborative’s current office renovation is more than a design project — it’s a chance to align the way our spaces look, feel, and operate with the way we work. Since our last renovation in 2018, our team has grown by nearly 30% and the way we collaborate has shifted dramatically.

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Project Details

Services Provided

Energy, Furniture Specification, Architecture, Interior Design, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Plumbing Design, Lighting Design, Sustainable Design, Visioning & Planning, WELL Building Design,

Hybrid schedules, remote employees, rapidly changing technology, and evolving project delivery methods are challenging us to rethink what an effective workplace should look like.

Rendering of Design Collaborative’s renovated Fort Wayne office showing employee workspaces, private workrooms, and collaboration stations.

We’ve gathered data through space-use studies, surveys, and visioning sessions.

What we’ve learned is clear: while only 40% of desks are used at a time, our teams crave more opportunities to connect, collaborate, and share knowledge across studios. This renovation focuses on breaking down silos, increasing flexibility, and creating a people-first environment that showcases who we are.

Our design strategies include:

Flexible neighborhoods: Instead of assigning individual desks, every team member will have access to the full 23,000 SF office, with a variety of spaces for heads-down focus, group collaboration, community gathering, and client engagement. Each team will have a home zone to strengthen team unity and a sense of belonging.
On-stage / off-stage design: Public-facing conference rooms and gathering spaces will be intentionally placed to create a curated client experience and enhance security, while team areas remain flexible and casual.
Flexibility for the future: Furniture-based solutions will allow the office to evolve with us, from project “war rooms” to hybrid collaboration zones.
People-first wellness: Pursuing WELL Certification, the design maximizes natural light, indoor air quality, and proximity to windows for every desk, prioritizing employee health and well-being.
Showcase + experimentation: The office will double as a living lab, allowing us to test furniture, materials, lighting, and graphics while giving clients an inside look at possibilities for their own spaces.

Rendering of Design Collaborative’s renovated Fort Wayne office showing private phone booths with fun wall paper.

Rendering of Design Collaborative’s renovated Fort Wayne office showing a bright sitting area in a lobby.

The renovation emphasizes personality and culture.

Playful colors, patterns, and environmental graphics reflect the energy of our creative team. Community spaces, including a relocated pantry and hub, are designed to spark casual connections across studios. A new storytelling wall will blend project awards with snapshots of DC life — highlighting that what we’re most proud of goes beyond design.

Ultimately, our office renovation is not just about updating finishes or layouts. It’s about creating a flexible, collaborative, and inspiring environment that reflects our values and equips us for the future of work.