GGA provided comprehensive design services for the new 37,000 SF headquarters of the Newspaper Association of America (NAA) including strategic programming, design, construction administration, and furniture and graphic services. The design focused on creating a more efficient office concept that provided flexibility, collaboration, and modularity. From the outset the NAA and the design team wanted to provide a sustainable solution. An integral part of that sustainable solution was to move to a Metro accessible location more urban site in Ballston, Virginia.The design solution created a flexible and adaptable office environment that provided individual workstations along the perimeter of the building and adjacent to natural lighting, with mid level glass enclosed management offices, support spaces, and team rooms on the interior of the space. Executive offices were placed in the many corners of the building with each having a shared conference room. Work islands housing support services were space around the office and integral with the perimeter workstations.Throughout the space graphics played an important role in designating the various departments and provide famous quotes about the newspaper industry. The carpet is both sustainable in its recycled material content but also evoked the color and character of newsprint. The design incorporated many concepts that brought forward the newspaper industry including the main art piece in the reception area made from old newspaper print blocks, and the first amendment written out to demonstrate the power of free speech and the power of the press.In addition to the professional image that evoked the newspaper industry, the facility offered a high flexible and adaptable office environment for the association to accommodate inevitable future changes in their business model and structure. The space also provided natural lighting for 100% of the staff, and provided a 25% more efficeint space, on a square foot per person basis from the previous office space, while providing better adjacencies, and a more open collaborative space.
