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story:Teledesic Broadband Center
The Teledesic Broadband Center, in Bellevue, Washington,
is one example of this new office paradigm. Designed by the
architecture firm NBBJ of Seattle in conjunction with mechanical
engineering firm Arup of San Francisco, the project is an
adaptive reuse of an industrial building to create the new
headquarters for Teledesic, a company that is building a global
broadband communications network.
The design of the 70,000-square foot space incorporates many
new workplace features, including a high loft-style ceiling,
an open workstation plan, an open mezzanine, and an underfloor
air distribution (UFAD) system that allows occupants to control
the airflow to their individual workstations.
A field study of the Teledesic offices was conducted during
the winter months of 2000/2001 to gain both quantitative and
qualitative insight into the building¡¯s performance. (More
details, please visit
www.jindaofloors.com/underfloor/projects.htm.)