© Thomas McConnell
Software company Applied Predictive Technologies empowers organizations to make data-driven decisions through analytics. At its new three-and-a-half-floor headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, the firm’s passion for data and predictive analytics is on display throughout.
Riffing on the overarching theme data is beautiful (and fun), IA’s experiential graphics and design teams utilized a variety of natural materials to create custom features and patterns that represent data collection and analysis. A four-story interconnecting stair is the main thoroughfare and heart of the new space, surrounded on each floor by a social gathering area, pantry, and tech stop (the aptly named Byte Bar). Above the stair, a custom light fixture at the ceiling features a backlit aluminum sheet perforated to mimic a binary pattern. Nearby, the reception desk is sheathed with a backlit steel replica of the pattern. Suspended over the stairwell, components of a large mobile configure the firm logo when the air currents are just right.
Company-wide riddles, puzzle solving, and friendly competitions are daily, data-driven events; some are showcased as interactive, branded elements. A hands-on, interchangeable string graphic lets staff plot changing data about fun subjects like the number of employees that attended various universities, favorite Game of Thrones character, or the number of states where employees have lived. Staff can vote on weekly trivia questions using oversized candy dispensers or pin recent travel destinations and photos on a world map graphic.