Title: Live Oak Bank 2
Location of Proejct: Wilmington, NC
Project Completion Date: 07/15
Firm Name: LS3P ASSOCIATES

Short Description: Designed to complement its unique campus and coastal environment, this 56,000 SF office building and corporate campus expansion captures views from every workspace, preserving as much of the undisturbed site as possible while seeking to provide an optimal workplace environment for employees. A slender, canted building footprint is oriented for optimal daylighting and passive solar design. Features include a 150-seat full-service café, exterior decks and balconies, and an on-site exercise trails.

Architect's Statement: Sited amongst old-growth longleaf pine trees, this new office building and corporate campus expansion integrates into its coastal site and seamlessly blends with the architectural language of the campus. Because natural light and views for every employee were critical goals, the building’s canted, linear form responds to its context and offers expansive north views to an existing lake.

For the overall campus design, the owner challenged the architects to preserve the longleaf pines, live oaks, and other features of the coastal landscape and create a building as connected to its serene environment as possible. To that end, the design blurs the distinction between inside and outside wherever possible shaded terraces, active walkways and decks surrounding the building, and a balcony lounge space.

An exterior materials palette of wood, glass, and steel provides both warmth and transparency; the cypress featured on the exterior will gently weather over time and further integrate the building into its site. The rhythm of columns and fenestration gives way to wide expanses of curtain wall for natural light and views. A double-height lobby visually connects the upper and lower floors, and a sheltered timber walkway connecting the campus buildings balances a heavy timber structure with a light, transparent aesthetic which minimizes the barriers between the occupants and the natural site.

In the interior, generous open workspaces are anchored by an inviting employee restaurant with a double-height window wall which offers a view of the central courtyard and the live oak grove beyond. The restaurant was conceived as a key employee amenity with a strong community connection. Local chefs focus on creating a menu of healthy, locally-sourced food to support employee wellness; additionally, many of the restaurant employees are selected from a local nonprofit established to help its clients overcome obstacles to employment. Wood accents in the ceiling, millwork, and structure all add texture and warmth to the space.

The restaurant opens to an outdoor patio with additional seating which flows into an outdoor lounge and a well-used pedestrian path connecting the campus buildings. The site layout encourages employees to take advantage of the natural beauty with a series of elevated pathways, outdoor gathering spaces, walking trails, and an onsite dog park.