Reinvigorating a campus hub.
National Instruments has been one of the leading technology companies in Austin, TX, for decades. However, the aging campus and facility wasn’t helping with recruitment among competing tech firms moving into town.
The concept of renovating the existing cafe was to create an energized, centralized hub for employees to gather, chat, and collaborate. The addition of a coffee bar activates the space for meetings anytime of day, while several food stations created choices for employees. Rustic tones and splashes of color were used to reinforce branding elements and create a cheerful, relaxed atmosphere.
size 14,000 SF
role Designer, Production
timeline Completed Spring 2019
floor plan
reflected ceiling plan
design development
It was important the real estate of a campus cafe was properly utilized; the design had to go beyond providing food for the employees. Drawing from the company’s history of forward-thinking engineering, dynamic angles and geometries were introduced. Because the integrity and timelessness of the cafe was vital, architectural materiality and lighting were kept neutral, while temporary and transitional pieces were perfect for splashes of color.
After a long hiatus, the project was back on. While the integrity of the original design remained, further iterations of the kiosk created a livelier space and introduced greenery to divide high traffic walkways from seating areas.
