For decades the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA) made ground-breaking strides in the aviation industry, despite teams being siloed into haphazard corners of Tampa International Airport. HCAA’s immediate connection to the people they serve through this terminal location is a deep source of pride and inspiration and became a driving force behind the design. This project set out to bring the pulse of passenger experience to their new home.
It was the team’s mission to develop a design strategy that could flexibly support a dynamic, unassigned work environment while weaving in rich connections to the organization’s culture. Historic references were achieved through adaptive reuse of materials and artifacts from the main terminal that told the story of HCAA’s past and future aspirations.
Their newly hybrid workforce, untethered by the catalyst of COVID, have department homerooms nestled in the work neighborhoods. “Pinwheel” workstations were conceived to provide a sense of physical and mental safety through strategic orientation that is never face to face with a neighbor. Glass created physical separation while maintaining open sightlines. An integrated desk reservation technology and personal storage lockers create an intuitive, seamless, and comfortable experience.
Wellbeing is at the forefront of the design. A horticulture program is entirely locally sourced from the Airport’s on-site greenhouse to form biophilic connections. A centralized stair promotes vertical circulation and connects three levels of Social Hubs. Wellness, focus, and phone rooms are distributed throughout with easy access for all staff.
In addition to LEED Gold certification, adaptive reuse practices play a role in enhancing sustainability. Motifs such as salvaged airline ticketing signs and runway lights celebrate HCAA’s history. Teak benches, previously utilized within the terminal, were repurposed to become butcher block countertops in staff lounges. Bricks from an original terminal fountain create a functional and textural stair plinth for safety.
