Lionakis Adaptively Reuses an Old Tractor Showroom for Its New “ Workplace of the Future ” Headquarters
at an AIA Central Valley design dialogue meeting , he was approached by John Ellis , a professor of architecture and former head of the architecture department at Cosumnes River College , who asked if he would be interested in teaching an online course on green building . Piner has been teaching the 16-week course ever since .
Piner lends his expertise to local preservation organizations . He spent five years as the preservation commissioner on the City of Sacramento ’ s Preservation Commission , which recommends policies , nominations and projects that support preservation of historic resources . “ They kind of got a twofer with me because I have a design background as a licensed architect and also experience in rehab ,” he says . He is also a longtime member of the nonprofit Preservation Sacramento .
Lionakis , Sacramento ’ s oldest and largest architecture firm , was on the hunt for a new headquarters site . The firm had outgrown its original space on 19th Street and had staff dispersed throughout three different buildings . “ As we outgrew each building , we began to be more disconnected ,” says Laura Knauss , principal and education leader at Lionakis . Lionakis searched for a site that would keep them in Midtown ’ s R Street Corridor but accommodate all 150 local employees under one roof . Ironically , the firm found it directly across the street from the original site . “ We could see the barrel roof structure of the building from our office windows and often wondered what it looked like inside ,” says Knauss .
The building — a former Weaver tractor showroom — had been carved into multiple tenant suites over the years with 9-foot-high acoustic ceilings that hid the exposed portion of the ceiling . The firm embarked on an extensive adaptive reuse of the historic 40,000-square-foot building , redesigning the structure from individual suites into a single soaring space . Four original barrel vaults were exposed , including the largest volume with 26-foot-high ceilings that serve as the firm ’ s major studio space and feature innovative elevated rooms known as treehouses that function as quiet workspaces . They also turned out to be ideal sites for making companywide announcements , since the entire structure can be viewed from on high .
Lionakis also exposed a series of clerestory windows that had been covered over . Vertical wood fins were added to the lower roof square footage on 19th Street , creating an element of protection from the sun . The firm engaged all staff in the design process , taking a holistic approach that embraces employee wellness . The result includes workstations with collaboration spaces , indoor and outdoor gathering and huddle spaces , and a large lobby and cafe area with glass roll-up doors to the outside , creating a space for employees to gather at lunchtime and breaks . Previously , staff would often take their lunch to conference rooms or eat at their desks . “ Now they can eat together , mix with other colleagues and departments more easily ,” Knauss says .
Some workers are partially remote while others come into the office . The desk-sharing app Flowscape is used to reserve a space when staff work in the office . “ We think of this building as a living lab ,” explains Knauss . “ We designed the space to have enough room for permanent desks for all employees , if needed . But until then , we are using this flexible arrangement .” So far the process has been successful . Lionakis moved into its new headquarters in April 2022 .
– Laurie Lauletta-Boshart
June 2022 | comstocksmag . com 45