Northern Trust’s redesigned and renovated office space with the collaboration of HED and Schuler Shook supports major culture shifts within the company through a reallocation of square footage toward more common and shared spaces, along with high-tech spaces to accommodate the infusion of significant technology systems in operations.

The office features “touchdown” and community areas, social hubs and lounge spaces, teaming spaces for longer work sessions, and paired programming. Moveable desks, walls, and power sources all add to increased flexibility and agility, and screens are height adjustable to accommodate both privacy and transparency goals established by the company. In addition, the entire space follows a “free address” work model.

All these decisions underpin the importance of the ‘human element’ in defining the experience of the space, driving the work and social culture to support the desired organizational culture shift.

Focal point supplied a variety of standard and custom linear luminaires to provide optimal lighting for the workspace, including Seem 1, custom Seem 1 Recessed Point Source Louver, Seem 2, Seem 2 Perimeter and ID+ 3.5" Downlights. The point source luminaires allowed for specific areas to have increased lumen output and direction focused light.