Reflecting the program’s success, Vanderbilt’s Vaccine Research Program’s renovated facilities provide efficient planning and space for additional personnel within the existing office suite. During the programming phase, needs for temporary touch-down spaces, private offices, and shared collaboration workspaces were evaluated, with an emphasis on maximizing shared space to be utilized by several staff members and visiting nurses. As many of the research program personnel are also clinical providers, they are often not at desks, and were amenable to sharing space to meet the program’s projected staffing requirements.

The project consists of the entire building floor plate, which was gutted for the renovation, leaving only mechanical shafts, vertical circulation, and building support rooms. The original enclosed offices concept, was modernized to promote transparency, accessibility, and flexible workspaces. The new floor plan consists of two work zones, divided by a central core of bathrooms, conference space, and building utilities. Each work zone includes a ring of glass-fronted offices, allowing natural light to filter through to the central shared workspaces. The shared workspaces are highlighted by a floating acoustic cloud ceiling, with the remaining ceiling open to the structure above. The project also included an upgrade to the building’s existing mechanical system and exterior windows that helped the project achieve LEED silver certification and significantly reduce energy consumption.