December 11, 2000

ZAAZ corporate office

Which will it be today? The orange fur-lined meeting pod or the retro magnet wall chamber? Those are the kinds of tough choices that face employees at ZAAZ, an Internet design and technology firm which just opened new offices at 1924 First Ave., between Virginia and Stewart.

The space designer, Utility Inc., and architect of record, Rob Humble, were challenged by the need to accommodate a variety of people and support services in a 28-foot-wide turn-of-the-century building. ZAAZ's 9,000-square-foot corporate office is spread over five floors. Offices are located on the first through third floors; executive offices, a lounge and conference rooms are on the fourth; and office space and a conference room are also located on the fifth floor.

On every level, curved walls covered in woven galvanized strips snake through the space, defining pedestrian corridors, workspaces and common areas. Galvanized steel, maple and subtle colors are used throughout, with bright colors splashed in specific areas, like a surprise.

But it's the pods that attract the most attention. Mike Moser of Utility said the idea came from thinking about how to create small, private meeting spaces. The pods are variations on a restaurant booth. They vary in size, seating between four and eight people. One is covered with bright orange three-inch-thick fake fur, another has walls covered with white board and a third has galvanized sheet walls which have been decorated with magnets.

Other design features include digital plasma screens, sloping skylights, a multi-media presentation room and a lounge.

Unimark Construction was the contractor and Performance Heating did the mechanical work. Northstar Electric did the electrical work.

Photos courtesy of Utility

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Previous columns:

• Urban Center at PSU, 12-04-2000
• Linda Heights Park, 11-27-2000
• Bone Dry Shoe Building, 11-20-2000
• Winnfield at Lakemont, 11-13-2000
• Pier 70, 11-06-2000
• Spring Mountain Elementary School, 10-30-2000
• Millennium Plaza Park, 10-23-2000
• A look at the Spokane Valley YMCA, 10-16-2000