Innovative workspace inspired by urban planning and sustainable design, conceived by renowned architecture firm’s Georgetown office
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 3, 2008 – RTC Relationship Marketing (RTCRM) announced today the official opening of its new Georgetown office space.
RTCRM chose the Georgetown division of global firm HOK as its architectural partner. The decision was based on HOK’s concept of open space and urban planning design and its commitment to sustainable communities and building environments, all of which meshes well with RTCRM’s desired work atmosphere and energy.
Over the last few years RTCRM has experienced explosive growth, more than quadrupling in size from 50 D.C.-based employees in 2005 to 215 in late 2008. In the last three years, RTCRM has also opened a Chicago branch, expanded its New York–based office operations and become one of the largest relationship marketing agencies in the country.
By 2007, RTCRM had long outgrown its D.C. office space and had expanded into seven satellite locations in Georgetown. “In spite of our seven locations, we were still in need of additional office space. And, after 16 years in Georgetown, we didn’t want to leave. Our entire agency had developed a deep affinity with the people, shops, restaurants, waterfront and the relaxed neighbor-hood atmosphere,” said RTCRM President Jeff Ross of the company’s community relationship. “We jumped at the opportunity to remain in Georgetown.”
RTCRM had exhausted all nearby expansion sites when the opportunity arose to lease, redesign and occupy two entire floors of Georgetown’s historic Foundry Building, thereby allowing RTCRM to consolidate its entire D.C. staff.
In creating the new office space, both RTCRM and HOK wanted to build within the guidelines of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED sustainable standards. During the build, the contractor ensured that 75% of the demolition and construction waste was diverted from area landfills to local recycling facilities. RTCRM and HOK worked to select materials with high recycled content—such as compressed paper and Eco Resin—for the accents, doors, dividers, cubicles, panels and finishes. Dimmers, task lights, motion sensors and compact fluorescent bulbs make the office lighting extremely energy efficient.
The architectural centerpiece of HOK’s design for the agency was a large, open central staircase, which resonated strongly with RTCRM executives after four years of staff dispersion. “We needed the agency teams to feel like they were all connected,” said HOK interior designer Katie Dufresne. “You can really sense the urban planning influence in the workspace layout; the major pathways, hubs and neighborhoods all intersect and foster a sense of community and interconnectedness.” The city design inspiration continued after construction, with RTCRM naming the conference rooms after famous urban thoroughfares such as D.C.’s Pennsylvania Avenue and the agency’s printing stations after major cities’ waterways, such as the Potomac River.
An additional key design component was visual access to the terrace space overlooking Georgetown’s C&O canal. HOK kept the perimeter of the building open and free of partitions, giving all RTCRM employees access to the natural light and views. Terraces on both floors provide views of the canal below, and outdoor furniture allows the space to double as both a dining and meeting area.
Since moving into the new office space, RTCRM employees have begun to fully realize how much the agency has grown. “For the past few years, we all worked in small satellite offices, making it difficult to get to know other employees. Now that we are under one roof, we have a stronger corporate culture, and everyone feels part of the larger agency team,” noted Anne Wolek, Director of Business Development at RTCRM. “In addition, our new offices are vibrant, warm and modern. It’s a great work environment.”
Media Contacts
RTC Relationship Marketing:
Rebecca Johnson
(202) 315-4554 | rjohnson@rtcrm.com
HOK:
Alan Hermesch
(301) 365-4762 | ahermesch@aol.com