t-mobile central plaza

t-mobile central plaza

Reimagining The Workplace

People enjoying a vibrant courtyard with diverse amenities, reflecting T-Mobile's innovative and people-first culture.
People enjoying a vibrant courtyard with diverse amenities, reflecting T-Mobile's innovative and people-first culture.

ROLE

Lead Designer / SD

OFFICE

Gensler Seattle

DURATION

2021

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scope

Plaza & Landscape Design

Landscape Architect - Brumbaugh & Associates

overview

T Mobile is a company known for its spirit of rebellious optimism and radical reinvention, yet the campus experience wasn't aligning with those values. The workflow of the company was radically changing. Traditional workstations were trying too hard and failing, and the workplace felt unbalanced in its attempt to support both focus and collaboration. T-mobile knew the solution to the problem required a shift of mindsets. They were committed to doing for their workplace and people what they did for the entire telecom industry-disrupt the status quo for the better.

Aerial view of T-Mobile's central plaza, featuring a striking mosaic of grey and white rectangular pavers, outdoor pavilions, and wooden benches scattered across an outdoor amphitheater.
Aerial view of T-Mobile's central plaza, featuring a striking mosaic of grey and white rectangular pavers, outdoor pavilions, and wooden benches scattered across an outdoor amphitheater.
Aerial view of T-Mobile's central plaza, featuring a striking mosaic of grey and white rectangular pavers, outdoor pavilions, and wooden benches scattered across an outdoor amphitheater.
Campus axonometric diagram showcasing six existing buildings, with the central plaza highlighted as the primary project focus, alongside other ongoing design interventions emphasized in magenta.
Campus axonometric diagram showcasing six existing buildings, with the central plaza highlighted as the primary project focus, alongside other ongoing design interventions emphasized in magenta.
Campus axonometric diagram showcasing six existing buildings, with the central plaza highlighted as the primary project focus, alongside other ongoing design interventions emphasized in magenta.

brand values

T-Mobile's identity is big and bold. Their brand values center around challenging the status quo to deliver innovation, accessibility, and exceptional customer experiences.

A striking collage of pink, black, and white marketing visuals, embodying T-Mobile's big, bold identity and mission to challenge conventions while enhancing customer experiences.
A striking collage of pink, black, and white marketing visuals, embodying T-Mobile's big, bold identity and mission to challenge conventions while enhancing customer experiences.
A striking collage of pink, black, and white marketing visuals, embodying T-Mobile's big, bold identity and mission to challenge conventions while enhancing customer experiences.

site

Unfortunately the T Mobile campus experience failed to reflect the company's core values and struggled to support modern ways of working.

Outdoor table and chairs in T-Mobile campus parking lot, highlighting a disconnect between the company's core values and modern work needs.
Outdoor table and chairs in T-Mobile campus parking lot, highlighting a disconnect between the company's core values and modern work needs.
Outdoor table and chairs in T-Mobile campus parking lot, highlighting a disconnect between the company's core values and modern work needs.

Ineffective Workspaces

A generic corporate building situated along a vehicular road, surrounded by steep, planted slopes that highlight the disjointed and inaccessible layout of T-Mobile's campus.
A generic corporate building situated along a vehicular road, surrounded by steep, planted slopes that highlight the disjointed and inaccessible layout of T-Mobile's campus.
A generic corporate building situated along a vehicular road, surrounded by steep, planted slopes that highlight the disjointed and inaccessible layout of T-Mobile's campus.

Disjointed + Inaccessible Campus

A white van is stationed before a bland, five-story beige corporate building, underscoring the unremarkable T-Mobile architecture.
A white van is stationed before a bland, five-story beige corporate building, underscoring the unremarkable T-Mobile architecture.
A white van is stationed before a bland, five-story beige corporate building, underscoring the unremarkable T-Mobile architecture.

Lack of Identity

users

To design a campus that empowered employees to live and work in new, innovative ways, thorough research was essential. The primary question driving this effort was: "What do users truly want in a workplace?"

An infographic illustrating the evolving needs of the modern workplace, emphasizing spaces designed to foster innovation, community, personal growth, and wellness.
An infographic illustrating the evolving needs of the modern workplace, emphasizing spaces designed to foster innovation, community, personal growth, and wellness.

Fewer Desks, More…

Design around new typologies, technologies and ways of working together beyond the seat.

Group of individuals practicing outdoor yoga, promoting holistic well-being and reimagining workplace environments to prioritize both mental and physical health.
Group of individuals practicing outdoor yoga, promoting holistic well-being and reimagining workplace environments to prioritize both mental and physical health.

Care for the Whole Human

Rethink workplace beyond “working,” by providing spaces that respond to human needs, including family and mental health.

A clipart graphic of diverse outlines, emphasizing a campus culture that seeks to celebrate inclusivity across abilities, religions, ethnicities, and genders.
A clipart graphic of diverse outlines, emphasizing a campus culture that seeks to celebrate inclusivity across abilities, religions, ethnicities, and genders.

Don't Just Comply, Celebrate

Infuse the campus with hospitality for the diverse spectrum of ability, religion, ethnicity and gender.

A woman guiding a friend along a scenic trail, symbolizing a commitment to embracing the outdoors with fluid connections between indoor workplaces and outdoor spaces.
A woman guiding a friend along a scenic trail, symbolizing a commitment to embracing the outdoors with fluid connections between indoor workplaces and outdoor spaces.

Embrace the Outdoors

Host outdoor venues and open the building to fluidly connect from indoor workplace to outdoor landscape

design framework

How might we create a unifying design language that captures
T Mobile’s identity while meeting the needs of their workforce?

the digit

The iconic "T-digit" is central to the company's brand identity. Big and bold, it serves as a the perfect symbol of the T mobile ethos. The logo is composed of a capital "T" flanked by two simple squares, or "digits".

The T-Mobile logo, featuring bold pink and white lettering flanked by two minimalist squares—or "digits"—serves as a striking and iconic symbol of the brand.
The T-Mobile logo, featuring bold pink and white lettering flanked by two minimalist squares—or "digits"—serves as a striking and iconic symbol of the brand.
The T-Mobile logo, featuring bold pink and white lettering flanked by two minimalist squares—or "digits"—serves as a striking and iconic symbol of the brand.

concept

The site design embraces the T-mobile "digit" as the catalyst for defining space. The digit is reimagined into a network of small-scale units that grow out of the existing campus grid. It transforms into everything from lighting and seating to pavilions populating the space.

The final central plaza concept plan highlights the T-Mobile "digit" as a design catalyst, seamlessly integrated into lighting, seating, and pavilion features that define and enrich the space.
The final central plaza concept plan highlights the T-Mobile "digit" as a design catalyst, seamlessly integrated into lighting, seating, and pavilion features that define and enrich the space.
The final central plaza concept plan highlights the T-Mobile "digit" as a design catalyst, seamlessly integrated into lighting, seating, and pavilion features that define and enrich the space.
A diagram illustrating the diverse programmatic needs of the central plaza, designed to accommodate everything from individual use to all-staff gatherings, with spaces for work, socializing, and restoration.
A diagram illustrating the diverse programmatic needs of the central plaza, designed to accommodate everything from individual use to all-staff gatherings, with spaces for work, socializing, and restoration.
A diagram illustrating the diverse programmatic needs of the central plaza, designed to accommodate everything from individual use to all-staff gatherings, with spaces for work, socializing, and restoration.
A concept diagram illustrating three phases: the existing campus grid, the contextual organization of outdoor programs evolving from the grid, and concentrated activity areas defined by reinterpretations of the T-Mobile "digit."
A concept diagram illustrating three phases: the existing campus grid, the contextual organization of outdoor programs evolving from the grid, and concentrated activity areas defined by reinterpretations of the T-Mobile "digit."
A concept diagram illustrating three phases: the existing campus grid, the contextual organization of outdoor programs evolving from the grid, and concentrated activity areas defined by reinterpretations of the T-Mobile "digit."

project stats

16,000

16,000

square feet in the plaza

square feet in the plaza

62

62

"digit" paver lights illuminating the landscape

"digit" paver lights illuminating the landscape

5

5

different "digit" variations: paving, lighting, seating, stage, pavilion

different "digit" variations: paving, lighting, seating, stage, pavilion

digit in 3d

Cubed pavilions extend the representation of the digit into 3d. These "third spaces" cultivate a fluid and dynamic community of belonging immersed in a lush PNW landscape. Here you can unplug from your routine yet still be equipped with all the amenities to do your best work.

Early Concept Rendering

An initial concept rendering of pavilions transforming the "digit" into versatile third spaces, offering a break from routine while providing amenities for optimal work.
An initial concept rendering of pavilions transforming the "digit" into versatile third spaces, offering a break from routine while providing amenities for optimal work.

Finished Pavilion

Individuals relax on sofas in the completed digit pavilion, a modern outdoor lounge with a warm wooden wall and ceiling paired with sleek metal fins, perfectly reflecting the concept renderings.
Individuals relax on sofas in the completed digit pavilion, a modern outdoor lounge with a warm wooden wall and ceiling paired with sleek metal fins, perfectly reflecting the concept renderings.
A side view of the outdoor "digit" pavilions, framed by L-shaped metal trellises that transition into solid wooden-clad enclosures, forming cozy lounges furnished with sofas, lighting, and ottomans.
A side view of the outdoor "digit" pavilions, framed by L-shaped metal trellises that transition into solid wooden-clad enclosures, forming cozy lounges furnished with sofas, lighting, and ottomans.

Coffee Shop View From Thomas St.

new connections

With large areas previously inaccessible and neglected, the new plaza design emphasized outdoor accessibility. Once dominated by steep semi-vegetated slopes, the eastern edge of the project was reconceived as an accessible amphitheater--an inclusive environment perfect for outdoor gatherings, lunchtime socializing, or casual business interactions.

Two individuals seated on a concrete plinth, with the amphitheater adorned with wooden benches and planters visible beyond.
Two individuals seated on a concrete plinth, with the amphitheater adorned with wooden benches and planters visible beyond.

View of Amphitheater

An aerial view of the vibrant new plaza at dusk, featuring glowing magenta digit lights embedded in sleek rectangular pavers and an accessible route winding up the amphitheater.
An aerial view of the vibrant new plaza at dusk, featuring glowing magenta digit lights embedded in sleek rectangular pavers and an accessible route winding up the amphitheater.

A Fully Accessible Amenity

A speaker engages a diverse, magenta clad audience at the outdoor amphitheater during an all-staff gathering.
A speaker engages a diverse, magenta clad audience at the outdoor amphitheater during an all-staff gathering.
A speaker engages a diverse, magenta clad audience at the outdoor amphitheater during an all-staff gathering.

Amphitheater At All-Staff Event

results

The campus design presents a reimagined workplace that invests in it’s people. It recognizes the power of connection, fosters inclusivity, embodies brand values and sparks whimsy and play. By integrating their unique, customer-centric culture into the design of their campus, T-Mobile is empowering their people to live and work in new productive ways.

The outdoor amphitheater at dusk, aglow with bold magenta "digit" lighting and surrounded by planters and wooden benches arranged throughout the tiers.
The outdoor amphitheater at dusk, aglow with bold magenta "digit" lighting and surrounded by planters and wooden benches arranged throughout the tiers.

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Designed by Julie Roberts in 2024

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Designed by Julie Roberts in 2024

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