Bunkhouse, Austin's favourite hospitality group, needed to move into their new offices within a tight timeline and budget. We designed a utilitarian system of material assemblies that could be sourced and assembled quickly, including industrial workbench kits, white pickled plywood, polygal and homasote, creating a restrained backdrop for showcasing the exuberant artwork and design flair of the company. The existing ceiling and flooring remained in order to stretch the budget as far as possible.
The space is divided into three zones - private offices and meeting rooms along the perimeter to the east, a bar of 'office pods' that bisect the space, and a corral of open desks with a lounge area facing west, with views over South Congress. The pods create a degree of visual and acoustic privacy for their tenants, but are designed to allow light and views to penetrate across them. Employees report substantial improvements in morale and collaboration in comparison with their previous headquarters, an old Victorian house with a rabbit warren of small rooms and staircases.
Thoughtbarn teamed up with John King Construction on the build, a partnership which optimised the strengths of each company. The latter, a mid-size commercial contractor, managed the shell improvements, including framing, mep, drywall and paint. Thoughtbarn oversaw the finish carpentry, aided by a dedicated crew comprised of Finegrain Carpentry, Lucktone Woodshop and Jimmy Rittenberry.
