Designing Spaces Our Way — Springhouse Architects | Residential Architecture based in Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio

From talking about what we do to design a space, to getting feedback from our team on what they like about our approach, we’ve gone from the old way to our way!

The old way for designing an office space typically presents itself the moment you walk into a business. We've all seen it.

A front lobby that looks nice, but is totally awkward with stiff chairs and outdated magazines. Only intended for visitors to wait behind a gatekeeping receptionist.
One conference room that is designed for the one largest meeting you have per year.
A break room - complete with a small dingy kitchenette, cheap furniture, and no natural light. Who would ever want to take a break in this room?

And now, there is the Springhouse Architects way!

We are residential architects, so of course we brought more living concepts to the work place!
The front lobby and the break room concept are reimagined. We brought the two features together to the front of the space. This became more of a living space filled with natural light where our clients and our team would want to spend time. With a modern couch & chairs, there is space to sit with your laptop or even have a casual client meeting. The kitchen space serves as our own coffee shop, kitchen island, and lunch counter. It’s true that everyone ends up in the kitchen and if you want to foster a professional atmosphere of camaraderie and team work, give them a natural place to feel casually connected.
We designed this space during COVID and we knew from the start that "the office" would never be the same.
With the changing generations, we as employers need to offer a space where people want to be.
With some form of remote work here to stay, offices need different ways to gather. I'm not convinced that desk hoteling will be the final answer, but meetings will forever be changed.
We have 3 places to have a meeting.
—A traditional conference room.
—A huddle room - a small meeting room with teleconference capabilities where a team member can have a private phone call, a Zoom meeting, or a heads down work session with a closed door.
—Anywhere in the shared open space that acts as our kitchen and living room.

Kayla, our NCIDQ certified interior designer, has this to say about her approach for designing spaces.

My approach to workplace and commercial design integrates both functional and aspirational needs, ensuring a comprehensive and tailored solution for each client.

We start by engaging with business owners and key stakeholders to gain deep insights into daily workflows, operational requirements, and the needs of all end users. This thorough understanding allows us to design spaces that enhance productivity, efficiency, and overall functionality while fostering a positive work environment.

A core component of our design philosophy is aligning with the business’s mission and values. We immerse ourselves in the company’s ethos, reflecting its identity in a way that harmonizes with the design without overwhelming the space. This ensures that the brand’s vision is subtly yet effectively integrated, creating a cohesive and visually appealing environment.

Natural light and biophilic design principles are central to our approach. We recognize the profound impact of natural light and a connection to nature on employee well-being and productivity. By optimizing natural light and incorporating biophilic elements, we create spaces that promote health and satisfaction while adhering to sustainable design practices.

In open-office environments, our design focuses on enhancing communication and fostering collaboration. Open-plan layouts are designed to facilitate interactions and build camaraderie among employees, thereby strengthening teamwork and creating a cohesive work atmosphere. However, managing acoustics is crucial to achieving these benefits. Without proper acoustic control, excessive noise can disrupt workflow and lead to employees using headphones, counteracting the intended ease of communication and collaborative efforts. We prioritize acoustic management by using sound-absorbing materials and strategic layout planning to minimize distractions and support both individual and team productivity.

Employee morale is a key consideration in our designs. We understand that a well-considered environment contributes significantly to job satisfaction and overall well-being. Therefore, we emphasize ergonomics in our design process, ensuring that workstations are comfortable and prevent strain. Proper lighting and ergonomic design not only enhance daily comfort but also help reduce health-related issues, potentially decreasing sick days and lowering insurance costs.

Additionally, our design approach embraces the strategic layering of textures and materials to add depth and warmth to spaces. This technique moves away from the cold, gray, and stark white finishes of the past, favoring warm grays and off-whites that create a softer, more inviting aesthetic. Integrating wood tones and natural materials aligns with biophilic principles, enhancing the connection to nature and supporting sustainability.

In pursuit of sustainability, my future goal is to collaborate with General Contractors to explore recycling materials from demolished sites and salvaging casework for donation. This initiative supports environmental responsibility and repurposes valuable resources, contributing to a more sustainable design practice.

By integrating these design principles and sustainability efforts, we strive to create workplace and commercial spaces that are visually compelling, functionally superior, and environmentally conscious, ultimately fostering a more engaging and supportive experience for all users.

Talking with our Springhouse team members, here is some of their feedback on what they like about the approach we took in designing our workspace our way.

Jenn

What I love most about the work space is the garage doors. I'd rather be outside than cooped up in a building, so being able to open the doors is awesome. I'm such a flexible person, I could honestly work just about anywhere. What's more important to me (and has the greatest effect on my production) is the relational environment. How we all work together, treat one another, resolve conflict, etc. I appreciate everyone's willingness to do all of that well and respect one another. That's what I like about working here the most. And hey, what other Boss would let me bring kittens and chicks into the office? Sheri does because she cares about us personally as well as professionally and wants to support us in any way she can. That's huge and really makes Springhouse stand out as a great and unique place to work!

Logan

My favorite part about our office at Springhouse is our garage doors! Whenever the weather is nice, we open those up and have a great indoor/outdoor feel. Fresh air and sunlight are essential in an office environment! Another nice feature of our office is the walkability. Being located in downtown Springboro, we can walk to many lunch options or meeting spots.

Todd

As the newest member of Springhouse one of the things I love most about our work environment is how well the space supports collaboration. The open work area is great for informal reviews and project discussions, while the conference room and huddle room allow for larger team and client meetings. Today’s technology makes it easy to do things remotely, and sometimes that makes sense, but we are at our creative best when we are able to work face to face.

Kevin

I often say that I love collaborating on projects. Our open office concept work space offers open communication. Our unique separation walls pay homage to the original Springhouse will providing visual barrier from front of office to work space behind. I mostly enjoy the relaxed island/kitchenette where we have lunch as a team most days.

Interested in what Springhouse can do to refresh your workspace? Give us a call!