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RICHARDSON-VICKS INC. HEADQUARTERS

 

 

This headquarters, built for a pharmaceutical company, is located in a densely-wooded site in Connecticut; and the intention in master planning was to occupy the least possible amount of the site, consistent with maintaining an invisible presence in the surrounding residential community.

The scheme arranges the buildings in two stories, on columns above the ground, with half the parking on grade under the building and the remainder of the parking on the roof, access to which was made possible by the presence of an adjacent hill. In order to minimize the impact on surrounding trees, the building was built from one end, back to the access road, so that no construction equipment was permitted around the perimeter.

To accomplish this, the steel members were fabricated and brought to the site in 120-foot lengths spanning the entire width of the structure and reducing on-site work. Consequently, the offices enjoy views of undisturbed natural woodland.

The typical office is thought of as a meeting room, as well as an office. The furniture is specially designed throughout; and the desks are anchored to the floor on two legs, to facilitate the ability to sit around, reduce clutter and promote a sense of space and openness. The 90-foot usable width of the building alternates back and forth to create terraces and views out for the interior secretarial spaces.

The balconies or decks have a plaster soffit and the deck itself is covered with a redwood duck board. The center building is widened to permit a two-story-high gallery, which is illuminated from the skylight above; and this space acts as the community space for the whole population. It is also used as an exhibition gallery.

The lobby is under the building, entered directly from the lower parking spaces; and a 200-foot-long greenhouse connects the office building with the original house on the site, which has been enlarged to become the cafeteria and dining rooms. The cafeteria is divided into three spaces of differing character to provide variety and interest in daily dining.

The exterior structure is weathering steel, and the color seems very much at home in these woods.


Client: Richardson-Vicks Inc.
Location: Wilton, CT
Size: 200,000 Square Feet
Completion Date: 1975

©KEVIN ROCHE JOHN DINKELOO AND ASSOCIATES All Rights Reserved

 

 

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