Northwestern Mutual's growing team of financial advisors needed a premier location for their Grand Rapids office. Ghafari provided full interior renovation and tenant fit-out design for their new space occupying 1.5 floors of the Bridgewater Place building, located just across the river.
The new and modern workplace embraces an associate-forward concept with multiple associate team suites and service offerings. The complex program is made cohesive with a layout that provides exterior windows overlooking the city river for all staff, equity to the entrance for visitors, shared spaces for breaks, and a complementary mix of materials and textures. Our design also offers private offices, conference rooms, and virtual meeting-specific spaces in a colorful and comfortable workplace. The final design experience is both functional and human-centered with a dynamic welcome space.
Although Ghafari joined the effort after the initial programming discussions, our team of architects and interior designers collaborated with the owner’s representative and suppliers to re-envision the original programming design. We engaged and responded to Northwestern's needs with tailored solutions that resulted in an energized client with increased associate retention and recruitment.
