The space also has an impossible-to-ignore "wow factor" that turns heads
of passers-by who stroll past the floor-to-ceiling windows at all hours.
"The goal was to make it as flexible and efficient as possible," said Fogarty.
And thus, they were able to spend more on finishes and take risks with the
design. "There's a mix of rustic and really sleek and modern finishes to create
a look that you don't see in your average office space. There's no wall or ceiling
or floor that is left untouched here. There are finishes wrapping every surface."
Houlihan added that it's a perfect example of how a company can reinvest
their real estate savings in better spaces for employees: "Lowering your real
estate costs can give you a space like this, because you're reinvesting the
savings in the wow factor."
Like the rest of Booz Allen's network of space, no employees are permanently
based in the Innovation Center. Teams occupy it on a rotational basis,
applying to the firm to use it for the duration of a particular project. It's also
available to all employees daily to hold a meeting or to drop in to the hoteling
space and work.
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