FOX Architects has designed the new offices of IT and networking company Cisco, located in Fulton, Maryland. FOX Architects was faced with unique cultural, design and engineering challenges in delivering Cisco’s new offices in Fulton, MD. Cisco had recently acquired Sourcefire, a smaller firm ingrained with a traditional work culture and comprised mostly of private offices. This varied greatly from Cisco’s flatter, open office culture. Our solution balanced elements from each culture into a cohesive design that supports personal choice in work style and location by implementing modular functionality in both individual and collaborative work areas.

The space supports a Secure and Open Computer Lab. The lab required dedicated electrical services, redundant on-site power generation, redundant cooling systems, chillers, pumps and air handlers. Hot Aisle Containment and Direct Cooling systems were deployed to increase efficiency in the cold and hot aisles respectively.

All workstations are equipped with height adjustable desks, ergonomic seating and individual task lighting to granting the power of choice of for posture, lighting and seating styles to all employees. Private and team focus spaces were evenly distributed all levels of staff. Workstations with higher panels along main circulation served as both acoustic barriers and doubled as whiteboards for collaboration. Mobile white boards further support collaboration, brainstorming and are intended to be located as needed for additional visual privacy as needed. A wealth of amenities featuring active gaming (foosball, ping-pong, pool) allow project teams to interact in a non-work focused environment or for a quick escape from a trying work day.

FOX designed an office abundant with natural light, individual choice, that intuitively elevates the collaborative process through modular choice. Our design successfully unified two distinct cultures and has been praised by both Sourcefire and legacy Cisco employees alike.

Design: FOX Architects
Photography: Erin Kelleher

https://officesnapshots.com/2017/03/13/cisco-offices-fulton/