Undiscovered West Texas Workplace

Located at the Domain in Austin, Texas, this 250,000 sq. ft. office space was designed for a confidential global tech company that wanted to communicate their culture through the colorful lens and authentic character of what it means to live and work in West Texas.

Situated within a first-generation core and shell office building, the design team was afforded a blank slate upon which to paint, both truly and metaphorically, an “Undiscovered West Texas” concept. The vision, as outlined by the client, was to provide a forward-thinking workplace that encourages wellness at work, enhances productivity, and aligns a West Texas attitude with their company’s core values.

Modeled off a West Texas road trip, the design captures the wild and surprising traits of seven destinations, each of which defined one of the project’s seven floors. Funky and unexpected design elements channel the magical ecosystem of West Texas rivers, valleys, canyons, and natural springs through a variety biophilic responses.

In an effort to layer authenticity, equity, and sustainability into the design, Cushing Terrell prioritized local resources for products and artistic features. Such contributors included a builder based in Austin’s neighboring Hill Country, who provided the rammed earth reception desk, and an artist from Mexico whose custom indigenous artwork is featured.