The Perfect Blend of Creativity and Functionality

"I would have time to be a better leader if all the design firms and consultants I deal with were as intelligent, passionate, thorough and professional as your team."

Christine Friello, VP Real Estate Strategy, X.L. Global Services, Inc.

- Consolidating personnel (approx. 600) from 3
  offices into 1 building

- Meyer Design hired to design 70,000 regional
  office in New York City while completing this
  project

- Implement X.L. Global Services, Inc.'s new philosophy of an
  open plan with fewer offices and a workstation
  layout focused on collaboration and technology-
  infused communication

Upon embarking on this project, the Meyer Design team realized that X.L. Global Services, Inc.'s requirements would need the perfect blend of creativity and functionality. In addition, many spaces needed to handle dual roles and design solutions would have to conserve valuable square footage.

The highlights of this regional headquarters include a Visitor's Center with hotelling stations for employees from other site locations, a Conference Center designed to host meetings for internal and external attendees with high-end break-out areas, and a cafeteria that transforms into a two-story Town Hall with breathtaking views of the building's natural setting.

X.L. Global Services, Inc. required many conference spaces with different degrees of privacy. Meyer incorporated inventive solutions within the space to address these needs. Small conference areas with slatted floor-to-ceiling millwork provide the right balance of privacy and natural light. Collaborative pantries function as break areas but can accommodate a quick brainstorming meeting with the use of tiled white boards set into painted paneled walls. Custom designed clamshell collaborative tables placed in two of the floor's elevator lobbies open from a circular shape to accommodate 8 to 16 attendees making good use of this often under-utilized area. Lastly, traditional conference rooms of varying sizes (with and without video capabilities) are spread throughout the building.

Space-saving sliding glass office entrance doors were chosen to maximize the square footage within each office. High density satellite file rooms were created to provide a central place for departmental file storage, therefore increasing the number and density of workstations that could be accommodated throughout the building.

A building-wide VBBS (Video Bulletin Board System) is controlled through a centralized hub allowing for specific information to be broadcast to a select area such as X.L. Global Services, Inc. promotional information to visitors in the Conferencing Center while general news coverage is sent to the entire building.

A feature found in all X.L. Global Services, Inc.'s offices - a saltwater fish tank - provides a special highlight to the reception area. Artwork selected by Meyer Design (from their existing collection and supplemented with a wide variety of original works of art) creates focal points in long corridors as well as ties together the different departments and floors of the building.

Many new corporate office standards have emerged as a result of this project including the following:
- Workstation sizes and configuration
- Office layout including interior offices with workstations near
  windows
- Centralized filing
- Inclusion of Sustainable/LEED design principles

In addition, X.L. Global Services, Inc. requested Meyer Design, Inc. to create a Global Multimedia Communications Technology Standards Manual in conjunction with the Audio Visual specialist, FutureSys, to document the standards developed for the conferencing areas within the Exton building for use in future X.L. Global Services, Inc. projects.

This regional headquarters was designed on sustainable principles and is being submitted for LEED®-CI Silver Certification.

This green space includes the following:

• Sustainable materials with low VOCs including paint and carpet, systems furniture that is Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certified, and housekeeping cleaning products and procedures that are environmentally friendly
• Reduced energy consumption through the use of efficient lighting fixtures, daylight responsive controls and the use of ENERGYSTAR equipment and appliances
• Green Powered Energy Credits purchased to offset X.L. Global Services, Inc.'s energy consumption
• Waste recycling - 79% of construction, demolition and packaging waste was recycled or reused

Boardroom

© Copyright 2009, Meyer Design, Inc.