Revitalizing a historic century-old space in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, this 14,000-square-foot office renovation marks the transformation undertaken by Substantial, a digital design studio, in collaboration with GO’C. Substantial enlisted GO’C to redesign the entire upper floor to meet the evolving demands of their growing company.
GO’C design team
Jon Gentry
Aimée O’Carroll
Project team
Architecture: GO’C
Contractor: Crossgrain and Dolan Built
Photography by Kevin Scott
A comprehensive understanding of Substantial’s day-to-day operations and the expanding roster of events and social programs they hosted informed the creation of a robust programmatic concept—the Forum. The concept is realized through a versatile assembly space for both social and business activities, becoming the driving force behind the office’s redesign.
The architectural centerpiece is a 20-foot-long custom reception desk, ingeniously repurposing Substantial’s former steel entry door to welcome visitors ascending the staircase from the street. Dedicated project rooms for collaborative work line the northern side, featuring simple white walls in stark contrast to the original exposed concrete. Nearly half of the office is dedicated to social gathering spaces, showcasing the existing hardwood roof decking, exposed beams, and brick through a clear and simple material palette applied to the central areas. A large 9’x16′ skylight bathes the space in natural light, and serves as a focal point for interaction among employees, clients, and visitors.
Custom steel and glass doors seamlessly connect enclosed meeting spaces to the central shared Forum, ensuring the influx of natural light and fostering visual permeability. Recognizing Substantial’s penchant for hosting diverse events, the design prioritized a large, multifunctional social space. By day, the expansive kitchen/dining area serves as touchdown workspaces, with a 25-foot-long kitchen island and a 16-foot-long bar island facilitating an effortless transition into a full-service event venue.
The redesign not only reintroduces panoramic views from east to west after many years but also maximizes natural light ingress from three sides and above through the new skylight. Thoughtful architectural insertions provide clarity in spatial understanding and circulation, affording employees the flexibility to work and engage with one another in diverse ways.
