Nationwide Insurance Innovation Center Offices – Columbus
The Columbus Architectural studio was recently tasked with the office design for the Nationwide Insurance Innovation Center located in Columbus, Ohio.
What was once a state-of-the-art theater tucked into the Arena District, is now home to The CoOperative, the innovation center for Nationwide Insurance. The theater was carefully re-purposed to keep the main circulation and amenity space elements in tact to help support a smart design program for the conversion into this new workplace. Office ‘neighborhoods’ are positioned off of the town hall gathering space, which was once the hub for the theater concessions.
At the lower mezzanine level, a research lab has been created with a variety of research rooms to provide different vignettes for user experience observations. One of the theaters used for private party rentals was kept intact and functions today as a cinema style conference room where teams can pitch new ideas. The upper mezzanine level is dedicated to learning and training. The high volume of space from the theaters create a unique layering of views into the office neighborhoods where creative ideas are visible at all times.
Custom project team pods were designed to be reconfigurable to accommodate a variety of collaborative working situations. Natural light has been brought in through new window openings and skylights to help illuminate the neighborhoods, which were once spaces for movie viewing.
Design: The Columbus Architectural studio
Photography: Kate Horgan
