Gather Coworking Offices – Virginia Beach
Campfire & Co. designed a modern, yet welcoming space for the Gather Coworking offices in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Gather is a co-working community serving leaders, teams, entrepreneurs, and innovators. Within a flexible, beautiful, and energizing atmosphere, members can do their best work while connecting, learning, and growing.
On the third floor of a mixed-use building in a central business hub of Virginia Beach, the third Hampton Roads location is inspired by the beauty of the oceanfront and unique context of the area’s neighborhoods. Natural materials, vibrant colors, and warm textures combine with signature collaboration zones, inspired meeting rooms, and abundant natural light to create a workspace that feels branded to Virginia Beach while rooted in Gather’s core values.
Opportunities
Core design opportunities are found in personalizing each of Gather’s signature interior details. A bright and welcoming entry introduces Gather’s brand with a custom mural and signature neon G. Additional custom details include a round pegboard built by a local woodworker opposite Gather’s tagline wall graphic: Let’s Do This.As guests enter the main coworking space and work cafe, blonde wood tones, warm cognac leather, rope textures and a sunset inspired collection of blues, pinks and yellows, further drive home connections to Gather’s brand and the coastal setting.
Moving into the core of the space, members will find local photography and custom artwork inspired by nearby neighborhoods in each conference room. Additional murals and wall graphics are found in hallways and at dedicated desk locations, breaking up the visual as you move through the large floor plate. Sandy toned carpet tiles and a warm concrete floor mimic natural colors found in the region.
Capturing every inch of potential space, nooks were built into the walls at key intersections to create stunning visuals, a cozy place to get away from your desk, or a moment for spontaneous connection. The use of Gather’s bold red brand color helps orient guests and create landmarks in wayfinding signage.
Challenges
The first location to be located on a single floor, a core challenge for the design team was to carefully use color, furniture, materials, and ample wayfinding to help orient members and visitors as they move through the 30,000 SF space.Just beyond the front desk is Gather’s signature work cafe and coworking area. Using furniture, lighting, and carpeting, the design team created zones within this space while maintaining maximum flexibility for events and allowing natural light to move freely from one end to the other.
Moving further into the space, large, cloud inspired pendant lights and vibrant seating nooks mark key hallway intersections. Wood wayfinding signage wraps each corner, providing a moment for materiality and a pop of color to break up long hallways.
Goals
The goal of each new Gather location is to balance the core brand experience with the personality and character of the local membership. Stunning spaces for all types of work, inspired meeting rooms, and flexible event spaces stay true to Gather’s core values of engagement, determination, and growth, while bold murals, natural materials, and an invigorating color palette help connect members to their hometown of Virginia Beach.
Design: Campfire & Co.
Photography: Mindie Ballard
