Transcard Corporate Office
Pfeffer Torode Architecture
Transcard Corporate Office
Pfeffer Torode Architecture
Awards Category : : Small Project (25,000 sf or less)
Transcard, a Chattanooga-based software firm, commissioned Pfeffer Torode Architecture to renovate the historic four-story Southern Express wedge-shaped building. The organizational anchor point of this comprehensive renovation is a new monumental stair that reinforces the firm’s collaborative spirit by visually connecting various operations throughout the building. Pfeffer Torode provided full planning, programming, and architectural services.
In the shared human experience, where our homes anchor our hearts and our workplaces shape our aspirations, the complex interplay between space and identity becomes boldly apparent. Just as a home bears tales of its inhabitants, the workplace most defines who we are and what we create. It is within this workplace that we truly share ourselves with our community. Thoughtful design can elevate our place of work into a new space of social and cultural engagement that forms a permanent part of our collected memories.
When Transcard chose the historic four-story Southern Express building in the heart of Chattanooga, they had a vision for creating a work environment and lifestyle that would foster this social and cultural engagement. However, site constraints were immediately apparent. Because the historic building shell would remain intact, the design team was left with an unusual form to plan around. This triangular-shaped structure posed a few hurdles for the Pfeffer Torode team to figure out.
Because of the shape, daylighting the middle of the building was a challenge. We started centrally and worked our way out. From the heart of the building, a new narrative unfurls—a central atrium and monumental stair flow seamlessly through interconnected levels. This architectural intervention bridges the spatial chasm that once divided departments, nurturing a sense of unity and shared purpose and allows light to filter throughout the space. Furthermore, we reserved an entire floor for social interaction with a fitness space, locker rooms, kitchen, bar, game room, and lounge space.
Further compounding issues included the floor-ceiling height getting shorter at each level. Preserving the historic window head height and coordinating ceiling heights, mechanical runs, etc. were a challenge. Despite these obstacles, the team demonstrated perseverance and dedication throughout the renovation process.
In the heart of Chattanooga, Transcard's commitment to crafting a space of social and cultural engagement has come to fruition. Transcard's vision unfurls within the wedges of history, where architecture breathes new life into time-worn brick and mortar. Within these walls, a microcosm of life emerges—a tapestry woven with the threads of work, community, and self-expression.
Date of Completion: September 2020
Client: Transcard LLC
General Contractor: Dillard Construction Inc.
Consultants:
Interior Designer: Boca Architectural and Interior Design, Kate@Boca.Studio
Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection Engineer: March Adams and Associates, Scott.Hudson@marchadams.com
Photography Credits:
1 – Originally constructed in 1893 as administrative offices for Southern Railway, the building’s triangular shape is accentuated by traditional features of Victorian commercial architecture, such as cast-iron columns, stone lintels, decorative brickwork, and a bracketed and projecting cornice.
Photo: Chattanoogan.com
2 – The floor plans and spatial organization of the new Transcard office showcases a creative reinterpretation of the establishment, all the while preserving the historic architectural features.
Floorplans: Project Team
3 – Existing interior conditions prior to renovation. Bookcases lined many of the arched windows, hiding them from interior view as well as blocking the incoming daylight.
Photos: Project Team
4 – Progress during interior demolition and construction.
Photo: Project Team
5 – Blackened, cold-rolled steel wraps the monumental stairs traversing the central atrium, grounded by a custom reception desk.
Photos: Nick McGinn Photography
6 – Integrated lighting and white oak details bring warmth to the blackened, cold-rolled central stair structure.
Photos: Nick McGinn Photography
7 – The contrasting black and white scheme flows from the architecture into the interiors to create a juxtaposing and striking composition.
Photo: Nick McGinn Photography
8 – Fixed to fluid workstations are positioned in a variety of settings to allow users to curate their own work environment.
Photos: Nick McGinn Photography
9 – The private offices are bathed in natural light through the historic, arched windows. Custom steel and reeded glass arched doors were commissioned to bring unity and rhythm throughout the space.
Photo: Nick McGinn Photography
10 – Utilizing the existing structure to our advantage, window seats were created on the masonry sills, offering views of the expansive Chattanooga downtown and Miller park.
Photos: Nick McGinn Photography
11 – A centrally located kitchen expands into the large dining space with fixed and flexible seating options. Retro video games line the wall in the communal dining space.
Photos: Nick McGinn Photography
12 – Offering amenities not often found in an office space was at the top of Transcard’s “must-haves” list. The fitness center, which houses traditional workout equipment, is completed with a vintage punching bag (left). Private locker rooms are bathed in light-toned natural stone and wood (right).
Photos: Nick McGinn Photography
13 – The light-filled sunroom offers small meeting spaces and breakout lounges for work and rest. Photo: Nick McGinn Photography
14 – The arches, seen in both the existing shell and in architectural additions, create a fluidity of movement throughout the space.
Photo: Nick McGinn Photography
15 – An arched custom bar, framed in black steel with routed walnut details sets the mood for the expansive executive lounge.
Photo: Nick McGinn Photography