Office Envy: PwC Plaza

Office Envy

Office Envy: PwC Plaza

The office tower prioritized collaboration and amenities when it redesigned common spaces.

December 26, 2023

Until recently, office tower atriums were something of an afterthought—a pass-through space with benches and plants, maybe a water feature. Post-pandemic, as workers remain reluctant to return to the office, companies are looking to the office lobby as a place of added inspiration. When Franklin Street Properties wanted to make the common areas work harder in its PwC Plaza office tower in downtown Minneapolis, they called Studio BV.

[Designer Betsy] Vohs says lounges, clubs, coffee shops, and outdoor spaces are now standard expectations for corporate offices.

“Tenants don’t need large training rooms for meetings, since those are now happening virtually,” says Betsy Vohs, founder and CEO of Minneapolis-based architecture and design firm Studio BV. “They desire breakout spaces that allow them to work together with teams, solve problems, and create ideas, so we designed that type of amenity.”

The lobby’s white and matte-black palette, with wooden accents and contemporary furniture, creates a clean, modern ambience. The new common areas, located on the first two floors, include rooms for teams to collaborate and brainstorm, equipped with writable walls, state-of-the-art video and audio capabilities, and furnishings that Vohs describes as comfortable but dynamic.

The redesign also features a new club lounge exclusively for tenants, complete with a fireplace, bar, and meeting spaces. PwC isn’t alone—Vohs says lounges, clubs, coffee shops, and outdoor spaces are now standard expectations for corporate offices.

“These [amenities] are to help create an experience that augments the existing office and helps to drive teams to connect and build relationships,” Vohs says. “That is the key—it’s the soft stuff. It’s about making connections.”

Franklin Street Properties says the new look at PwC Plaza, which includes the Royal Sonesta Hotel, is drawing interest from prospective business tenants.

“This is having an effect,” Vohs adds. “Leasing is increasing, and tenants are excited about coming back to the office.”