Knickerbocker Group
Knickerbocker Group
Trent Bell
When the need for more space to accommodate Knickerbocker Group’s growing team arose, the search led to a raw industrial shell. With much of the design and construction taking place during the height of the pandemic, many design decisions were driven by the desire to create a space for how our team would return to the office, as well as offer adaptability for how we will work in the future.
For our Portland location, we wanted to achieve a balance between the comfort and cozy atmosphere of our residential projects with the requirements of a commercial workspace by taking a “resimercial” design approach.– Angela Ballard, Project Interior Designer, 82 Hanover St.
To transform the space, restored brick exterior walls, white-painted ceiling beams, and ductwork was added to create a unifying palette. To provide light and views, a central core contains the kitchenette, server space, four private bathrooms, a shower, and a mother’s/focus room.
Wood-toned workstations, which boast sit–stand desktops and closed storage, ring the windowed perimeter, bringing light into interior offices that feature all-glass walls. Overhead lighting is zoned, dimmable, and connected to efficient occupancy sensors. Functional and decorative acoustical treatments, such as wavelike felt panels that float above a meeting table, minimize sound echoing.
The natural beauty of wood and craftsmanship are highlighted throughout the space, from the live-edge conference room table—locally made from a fallen oak tree in downtown Saco—to the custom, built-on-site walnut acoustical wall panel that is backed with sound-absorbing material. The ADA-compliant, walnut kitchenette has touch-latch cabinets, concealed appliances, and an ash counter-height table that can be used for eating, working, or a brief meeting with a vendor or coworker.
Planters handmade by a local ceramicist are filled with ferns and succulents, and a Soumak wool rug softens a poured concrete floor. The walls are in deep green nickel-gap with carefully mitered corners, and art is hung gallery-style, adding warmth to the space.
The outdoor deck—where native grasses and hop vines swish in the Casco Bay breeze next to lounge areas that encourage gatherings—uses a modular system that floats on the roof to avoid penetration and is designed for maximum privacy with minimal weight.
Our firm created a home away from home that’s comfortable, fosters innovation and focus, and serves as inspiration for staff and clients alike.– Design Team, 82 Hanover St.
The benefits of being both design and build, including seamless in-house coordination and real-time decision-making, kept the jobsite running safely during COVID lockdowns. Today, employees work in a history- and nature-inspired space that encourages creativity and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
We listen, collaborate, and care. Simply put, we do what’s right—for our clients, community, and this unique place we all call home.
