PROJECT Kudu Dynamics

ARCHITECT 3G Architect, LLC

LOCATION  Chantilly, Virginia US

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  5/1/2021

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Michael Greigg, AIA, Laura Bhalla, Darius Winchester
OWNER/CLIENT Kudu Dynamics, LLC
CONTRACTOR/CONSTRUCTION MANAGER  Zumot Real Estate Management
PHOTOGRAPHER  Montana Monardes Photography

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
CIVIL ENGINEER
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Fernandez Associates
MECHANICAL ENGINEER Capital Engineering Group
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER Capital Engineering Group
CONSULTANT
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SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT  

Kudu Dynamics, LLC is a cutting edge cyber security company with a serious yet whimsical DNA. Long, intense hours are balanced with comfortable places to unwind and get away. Although we cannot discuss most of the program, we can break the program into two basic components: Public and Non-Public. The design challenge was to provide a large welcoming public area that could double as a congregation area before and after meetings as well as an area where employees could gather and relax away from the intensity of the job. Kudu challenged us to provide multiple casual conversation areas: a library, a variety of recreational options such as ping-pong, a pool table, flight simulators, and board gaming areas to name a few, and multiple pantries, cafés, and coffee bar choices. Our solution was to take advantage of one side of the building that had floor to ceiling glass and make that the public area, but the square footage of the public area was too large to have a consistent window line vocabulary. Therefore, we broke the program into two and connected the 4th and 5th floors with a spiral stair. By doing this we could fully take advantage of the corner of the building with the full height glass and this allowed us to remove the louder recreational activities away from the lounge and quieter conversational activities. The vocabulary of the architecture was derived from two places. Kudu already had some laser cut metallic signs and branding artifacts that they wanted to reuse and metal mesh used in the secure partitions. We blended these items to created the vocabulary. Metallic signs and branding artifacts provided whimsy and coloration. Metal mesh was used as the binding agent. It was used in the cabinetry, floating ceiling panels, railings, and end tables. We paired the metal mesh with stone and black piping used in the sprinkler systems to make one big machine so the open ceilings felt as it was part of the same system. We recycled steam valve parts to create handles for the conference room doors and used cages for some of the lighting. The final effect was a polished yet comfortable atmosphere that captured the DNA of Kudu Dynamics, LLC.

JURY COMMENTS (If applicable)

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project/Jury PDF

IMAGES (Captions and Photographer Credit)

1. Welcome to Kudu! © 2021 Web Design by Montana Monardes
2. Upper Level Grand Foyer © 2021 Web Design by Montana Monardes
3. Spiral Staircase © 2021 Web Design by Montana Monardes

4. Upper Level Library © 2021 Web Design by Montana Monardes
5. Upper Level Pantry © 2021 Web Design by Montana Monardes
6. Upper Level Cafe © 2021 Web Design by Montana Monardes
7. Lower Level Cafe © 2021 Web Design by Montana Monardes
8. Lower Level Lounge © 2021 Web Design by Montana Monardes