Shaping brand evolution through sustainability and technology

Mirroring brand heritage through innovative design

As a 200-year-old Norwegian financial institution, the workplace reflects DNB’s brand and identity through materials and finishes inspired by Scandinavian design. Warm oak and walnut wood tones, and deep hues of blues and greens represent the natural landscape of Norway. The design of the reception was informed by the structure of a Viking ship with a unique connecting space that features a Northern Lights installation. This landscape stands in quiet contrast to its vibrant New York City backdrop.

DNB’s space balances the physical demands of the business and the needs of its people – just as urban and natural environments balance each other. The workplace offers an adaptive framework of environments for congregation and focus.

An in-depth discovery process geared towards the future of work

A thorough discovery process helped us meet DNB’s strategic objectives by engaging in interviews, utilisation studies, surveys and social network analysis. This enabled us to identify how teams should operate, the common collaborators and what behaviours to nurture. Additionally, the findings demonstrated the importance of wellness and sustainability which guided the project to WELL Platinum & LEED Gold Certification.

Understanding how DNB’s teams worked in the present, and how they would evolve in the future, led to a variety of space types. These include multiple meeting areas and alternative work points to support different workstyles. Collaborative space was a key component of the design. So, a quarter of the floor plan is dedicated to communal areas including a reception, social hub café and a multi-purpose conference space.

Designing to meet WELL and LEED standards

Materials

• At least 90% of ceilings and 75% of insulation (by area) meet strict Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) standards.

Air quality

• Air quality measures in the office exceed ASHRAE standards by 30%.
• CO2 monitoring systems manage changing occupancy levels throughout the day. These systems allow for real-time adjustments to the HVAC system, ensuring optimal air quality control.
• Air quality control during construction helped minimise potential contaminants and pollutants that could impact the indoor environment.

Construction

• 81.81% of construction waste (by weight), including 6 main streams, are diverted from landfill.

Energy

• Energy efficiency measures include ENERGY STAR-certified equipment, which accounts for 96.6% of all newly installed equipment.
• A high-efficiency lighting system reduces energy consumption by 20% compared to ASHRAE standards.
• The lighting system includes automatic controls based on natural light levels and occupancy sensors that manage 80% of the lighting, promoting energy conservation.

Acoustics

• Acoustic performance meets the highest requirements for HVAC background noise, sound transmission and reverberation time.

Water

• Newly installed pantry faucets support water use reduction by 31.81% compared to LEED standard baseline.
• All newly installed pantry faucets are WaterSense labeled, which was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Views

• 83.57% of regularly occupied areas provide access to outside views.