Title: The Truist Leadership Institute
Location of Proejct: Greensboro, North Carolina
Project Completion Date: May 2018
Firm Name: CJMW Architecture

Short Description: The Truist Leadership Institute’s campus in Greensboro, North Carolina is a marriage of place and purpose. Located on a wooded, lakeside site, this executive leadership center is designed to eliminate outside world distractions and promote the inward focus required by The Leadership Institute’s programs. The unique site and surrounding context inspired a site-specific design solution respecting the natural setting.

The campus is a highly crafted and morphed experience with the Site and its natural surroundings. It is truly a purpose-built campus – specifically attuned to support the work that goes on there and to enhance the experience of program participants.

Architect's Statement: Truist Leadership Institute’s (TLI) campus in Greensboro, North Carolina is a marriage of place and purpose. A subsidiary and semi-independent arm of Truist, TLI offers world-class leadership development education to leading companies from across the US as well as Truist employees. The heart of TLI’s offerings is a highly effective, deeply contemplative and immersive program of self-discovery held over three or five days.

Formerly located within a non-descript office park, program space was limited. Participants had to stay in a nearby hotel, thereby ‘breaking’ the intensive learning atmosphere each day. The standard office atmosphere didn’t provide any real sense of separation from participants’ normal environment. In addition, the existing space was a rabbit-warren of hallways and private offices; consultants and staff had little connection to each other, and no one had much of a connection to the natural world. The Leadership Institute wanted a new home that would embody its culture, provide a better teaching/ learning environment, and support the work of program participants.

Inspired by the narrow, sloping wooded site and determined to save as much of the site’s treescape, the design team conceived of a village-like campus stretching 565 feet along a natural spine. A study of the terrain and natural features helped integrate the building into the site with a soft footprint. The design team walked the site with an arborist and the landscape architect, marking specific trees to be saved.

From the street side, the central core element has two mostly enclosed sides, providing privacy for specific program activities. Likewise, the street-side guest wing corridors are enclosed for privacy, with a rhythmic series of windows punctuating the façade.

Otherwise, each element of the campus opens to views of the lake and woods – from the “Enrich” pavilion/event room at one end to the “Treehouse” at the other. The Treehouse is positioned between three large oak trees and takes on the character of a “Chapel in the Woods”. Floor-to-ceiling glass, open stairs, and wide decks blend inside with outside, allowing participants to connect with nature, eliminating outside distractions and promoting an inward focus.

A key idea was creating a holistic design that would blur the boundary between the natural world and the built environment to allow people to easily connect to themselves and the world outside. The village-like layout aids in achieving that goal – by breaking out certain areas into small pods, people are compelled to re-connect to nature as they go out and in. The openness of the buildings themselves, which provides sweeping views to the woods, the lake, and the grounds, reinforces the idea that even when one is in the building one is enveloped in nature.

Organic materials that move from the exterior to the interior further obscure the boundary between inside and outside. Natural materials throughout reinforce this connectivity. Trunks and branches of salvaged trees were repurposed both as barn doors and as an abstract marker at the elevator lobby.

From early meetings, the discussions centered on the values of openness, flexibility, diversity and collaboration. These became the conceptual lodestars for the project overall. On a more physical level, the program became the guiding principle. The team focused on the experience of the participant in TLI’s programs and crafted an environment that would become almost like another aspect of the program itself.

The 60,000 square foot, three-level campus includes three full program suites, each with two meeting rooms plus flexible spaces for collaborative work. Additional meeting and event rooms and 48 luxurious guest rooms allow TLI to host multiple programs and events simultaneously.

Marking the beginning of their immersion, guests arrive via a bridge into the lobby with a direct view to the lake and woods. The main floor is the most public, with staff and administrative offices and the Enrich event room on this level. The upper ‘treetop’ floor is reserved for program work; the lower floor hosts amenities and support spaces.

Seating nooks and open seating areas, multiple break out rooms, wrap-around decks, a fire pit and other casual spaces encourage connection and sharing. Program teams come together at night to collaborate; community tables in the bistro are sized for this group work.

A fitness room provides a place to energize. Breakfast and lunch are served in a bistro setting. With their treetop and lakeside views, guest rooms are a place of respite, deliberately separated from teaching and group areas. Wood flooring and paneling create a scaled-down entry passage, welcoming the guest home.

Separated from program areas, Institute administrative spaces are self-sufficient, with private and open offices, a transient work area, huddle rooms, and a break room. Several team members shifted from private to open offices, “giving back” space for conference and huddle rooms. Light-filled and open spaces encourage collaboration and creativity among staff.