Lines for Life Headquarters

Portland, Oregon

How do we expand and revive tired offices to energize 21st century professionals?

One woman sits in a blue upholstered chair in an open office space, working on a laptop, while anther woman can be seen in the background, behind a glass wall putting something onto a bookshelf

Lines for Life is a regional non-profit dedicated to preventing substance abuse and suicide. Their work addresses a spectrum of needs that includes intervention, prevention, and advocacy.  Located in the Riverside Centre office building, which FFA recently refreshed and repositioned, the organization needed more space from which to carry out their mission.

Their existing suite was in need of a refresh and the two adjacent suites which became part of the expansion had been vacant for some time. The expanded new suite provides  almost 12,000 square feet – nearly the entire fourth floor of the building.  The renovation of the combined spaces include new offices, conference rooms, break rooms, collaboration space, workstations and workspaces.

Staff health and wellness, natural light and transparency were the tenant’s highest priorities, and as such, a significant amount of glazing was incorporated into the new offices and conference spaces, allowing daylight to flow into the interior of the suite. The color palette is earthy and calming, with pops of the tenant’s branded colors – greens, blues and yellows. Because of the significant amount of group work that takes place in the office, several walls also include writable surfaces throughout the space.

One key feature of the design was dubbed the “Starbucks Space” as the tenant wanted to replicate the casual yet dynamic environment of a coffee shop. The space incorporates different types of comfortable seating that supports a variety of ways to work. They also wanted to bring in a Pacific Northwest feel, so the building’s heavy timber columns were exposed, an acoustic wood slat wall was incorporated, and a recess behind the banquette seating was designed especially for the inclusion of plants.

Another space that greatly benefited from the renovations was the main breakroom. This space was previously cramped, cluttered and did not support staff taking a break from a stressful day. The former break room was gutted and expanded to accommodate staff more comfortably. In re-programming the space, every staff need was accounted for. It now includes smarter storage, additional varied seating, an island for meal and coffee prep, and plenty of space for appliances, along with integrated trash and recycling bins to keep it clutter-free.

Year Completed:
2020
Size:
12,000 sf

Project Contact:
Richard Grace, AIA, NOMA
Partner, Market Lead
Connect
Two women sit at a conference table near a rounded bank of windows, as another woman enters the room
Conference Room
One woman sits at a small table on a banquet, working on a laptop, while another woman sits at a tall table, reading a magazine
“Starbucks” Space
One woman sits at a high table with a laptop in front of her, while another woman writes on an erasable wall surface
Writable wall in “Starbucks” Space

 

 

 

Three women relax in an office break room with dark blue walls and, a wooden table, and an island separating the eating area from a galley kitchen
Break Room

BEFORE THE TRANSFORMATION

A conference room with dark, dirty carpet, a bank of rounded windows, and a picnic table
Conference Room
A gutted office building with boxes on the floor and doors leaning up against pillars
Future “Starbucks” Space
A dark, cluttered office break room
Break Room
Empty, open office space with drop-ceilings, fluorescent light panels and dirty carpet
Open Office Space