The Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) is one of the world’s leading financial services providers and one of the oldest banks in the UK. RBS has had a presence in JP Morgan Chase Tower in Houston for 24 years; however, after restructuring and consolidation, RBS occupied additional square footage and relocated within the building. The bank asked the design team to create a space that would support and reflect the various departments that were newly relocated.
Conceptually, the plan was driven by the desire to locate a collaborative public area centrally between two discreet divisions of RBS. The design concept is that of a "collaborative box," a glass box within a box for the bank's public areas - conference rooms, visitor offices, administrative assistant areas and entertainment bar. The design takes advantage of the commanding 65th floor view and natural light afforded by the building's floor-to-ceiling windows. The Collaborative Box was penetrated with shifting wall planes and materials that guide light through the space and always allows the viewer a visual relationship to the city and it is the hub of the office, with the two discreet departments situated on either side. Employees and guests are reminded of the RBS Scottish heritage in subtle details such as a royal blue striped carpet as well as tartan patterns applied to the upholstery and incised into the walls above employee workstations. Overall, the space is devoid of decorative motifs and instead uses the historic concept of patterns and grids to create texture and interest.
The RBS project won several awards in 2005 including a prestigious national institute honor from the American Institute of Architects; the AIA Houston Chapter Honor Award for Office Design; the ASID First Place Award for Commercial Office Design; Architectural Record's Commercial Award of Merit; Prism Stone in Architecture Commercial Award of Merit; and the Decorative Center Houston Design Excellence Award for Best Office Design. |
