KSS Architects—The Innovation Center

THEINNOVATIONCENTER

QUALITIES OF SPACE At the heart of the innovation center typology are three central movements—to connect, to ideate, and to experiment.Innovation Centers e considerations for the qualities of space that make a successful innovation center can be mapped in relation to these three central movements. Access to Venues for Balance of subject workshops collaboration experts & speakers & focus Spaces Interdisciplinaryfor interactive cross-pollination IDEATE collisions CONNECT Visibility & Spatial transparency flexibility & reconfiguration Rhythm of Flexibility Tools forindividual & of space prototyping Sparkgroup work ownership & testing inspiration & play Balance of EXPERIMENT Serendipity messiness & & natural clean lines encounters Venues for MAKE informal social MAKE is where connection, interaction experimentation, and ideation come together to create new ideas, products, and processes. is is innovation.

THE INNOVATION CENTER What is innovation? What makes an innovation center an innovation center? Innovation is the modern response to entrepreneurial spirit—exploration that recognizes needs and Whether an innovation center is found in a co- constructively fulfills them. At its best, innovation working space, on a college campus, in the heart of a is scalable, with the capacity to meet people where company’s headquarters, or as a startup partnership, they are and unveil new perspectives on tools its values-based culture of thirst for knowledge and processes already at hand. And innovation is and natural curiosity imbue it with a sense of vital vibrantly and fiercely empirical—a canvas where purpose. Molding the space to articulate and support inquiry, analysis, and design come together to paint that purpose hinges on creating a place where out of the world anew. the chaos of sketches, stickies, and tangent-driven conversations comes logic, inspiration, and action.INNOVATORS Innovators are makers, scientists, CASE STUDY: LINDE TECHNOLOGY CENTERare leading-edge tinkerers & creatives at the forefrontchangemakers The case study following explores our work for the of thinking, making, & doing. Linde Group to design the Linde Technology Center, an innovation center that combines R&D, workplace, Unlike the majority groups laboratory, and customer interaction, emphasizing the interaction at the edges of these typologies. or even early adopters, In short, the Linde Technology center is its own city—Innovators innovators are leaders in an innovation hub with the infrastructure to bring in (2.5%) power & goods, the technology to explore questions producing & systemizing like hydrogen popping and runaway reactions, and the human capital to mix engineers and researchers Early Early Late Slow new solutions and legal teams in the grand pursuit of commerce. Adopters Majority Majority Starters & processes. THE PROMISE OF THE NAVY YARD (13.5%) (34%) (34%) (16%) We see the Navy Yard as a promising ecosystem An innovation center is a hub for where innovation meets residential meets high-impact strategic exploration. workplace—a hub that derives its power from its position at the edges—the edges of industrial, the The world, in today’s experience-driven, disruption edges of residential, the edges of bustling workplace economy, is experiencing monumental shifts— & retail. It is exactly this edge-ness that boosts the stimuli like increased global competition, ever-rising Navy Yard’s promise for innovation centers and consumer expectations, and intensifying complexity enables it to capitalize on the industrial heritage are requiring companies and institutions to dedicate and infrastructure of the site while leveraging its resources, tools, and delineated structures to driving connection to the urban community and a city- innovation. Innovation centers have three core goals: centric culture of connection. The Navy Yard’s prime location would elevate transformative innovationCORE GOALS PARTNERSHIPS INNOVATION centers that connect, ideate, experiment, and make. ECOSYSTEM This is what distinguishes the 21st Century—placesfor Innovation where people can come together to innovate in oneCenters place designed for the entire cycle of creation. SPECIAL PROJECTS ex: Leveraging the ex: Crafting research ex: Launching a shared economy to collaborations with demonstration lab reframe competitive local universities for marketing & sales advantage



BUILDING USES OFFICE RESIDENTIAL FLEX/LIGHT INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION & RESEARCH CAMPUS NAVY - RETAINED NAVY - NEW STRUCTURED PARKINGINNOVATION CENTER POTENTIAL centers shine is at these edges, taking advantage of the infrastructure industrial sites provide likeAT THE NAVY YARD access to power, space for experimentation, and access pathways that enable the ebb and flowJust as innovation thrives at the intersection of of moving product. The Navy Yard’s promisedisciplines, innovation centers can thrive at the of innovation also stems from the education &physical intersection of a community’s building research campus sites—places where great mindstypologies. Innovation Centers naturally thrive come together—and offices and workplace whereat the edges of typologies—some of the most commerce can be better defined and redefined.promising sites at the Navy Yard for innovationcenters are the intersections where officedistricts meet education & research campus meetflex/light industrial. Where we’ve seen innovation



DESIGNING ANINNOVATION CENTERAT THE HEART OFA COMPANYCASE STUDY:LINDE TECHNOLOGY CENTERAt the center of a well-executed project is a well-articulated goal. Through a leading-edge visioningprocess, KSS worked with our client to delineatethe overarching goal of the project—to drive thespeed of delivery by facilitating collaboration andinnovation. For the Linde Technology Center, thatmeant intentionally balancing laboratory spacefor complex food processes with workplaces andcustomer interaction spaces.By internalizing the driving project ideas ofinnovation, engagement, and transformation, theproject team led interactive sessions with theclient to reexamine the client’s organizationalstructure, designing a project and an organizationalmodel that would be high-performing, functional,and flexible to future needs. By arranging openoffices and co-working spaces adjacent to aresource-rich “collaboration spline”, KSS craftedopportunities for innovation through interaction.A clear glass wall illuminates lab spaces acrossfrom the collaboration spline, cultivating a sense oftransparency and accessibility across departments,encouraging R&D, engineering, and special projectteams to engage in moments of exploration anddiscovery throughout the day.

Laboratory Space COLLABORATION SPLINECustomer Interaction SpaceFocus Workplace The heart of the design is the collaboration spline, anCollaboration Workplace innovative plan that emphasizes the flow through and identity of the three central program components. The collaboration spline features: - Clean, linear organization emphasizes clarity - Simplicity of one-floor environment prompts atmosphere of teamwork & unity - Allée emphasizes transparency & collaboration - Ample daylighting in the workspaces - Linear warehouse has easy access to labs/demo spaces - Organization highlights interdisciplinary collaboration LABORATORY SPACE Laboratory spaces are designed to be clean, functional, and secure, reflecting Linde’s high-precision, professional approach to research and development. Due to the interactive nature of the building and the presence of customers, in addition to the potential for collaboration and employee engagement, laboratory spaces are transparent and inviting, expressing Linde’s drive toward innovation. Laboratory space design focuses on functionality and safety—providing a secure space to explore innovations in industrial processes.

WORKPLACE The workplace balances transitions between focused and collaborative environments—understanding thatCreative, efficient, and flexible, workplace areas are traditional desk space & small group huddle space aredesigned with plenty of natural light to improve key components of productivity. The best approachproductivity and illuminate an engaging environment. for Linde is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but aThe Technology Center is an opportunity for Linde variety of spaces that meet the wide span of Linde’sto redefine and explore parameters for effective and organizational needs, providing employees with choiceinnovative workspaces. By examining balanced ratios and variability to suit their individual needs.of collaboration and focused work opportunities, theworkplace program will fulfill Linde’s vision. Workplace design balances focus & engagement, providing an environment that empowers employees to be productive and collaborative. CUSTOMER INTERACTION Customer interaction spaces should be expressive, informative, and interactive. For the Linde Technology Center to build upon the company’s brand and identity, clean spaces with welcoming, engaging features should be incorporated into the very fabric of the built environment. In exploring the interactivity of the customer interaction spaces, we will focus on the demonstration of product as a centerpiece for the Technology Center. Customer interaction spaces emphasize Linde’s processes and products while engaging the customer at an expressive and informative level.

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