SCB’s Headquarters appears in the April edition of Architectural Record as part of a piece exploring how architecture firms design office spaces that reflect their work, foster collaboration, and celebrate unique processes and cultures.

In the article, Sheyla Conforte, SCB Principal and Executive Director of Interior Design, explains that SCB’s previous office did not fully reflect the firm’s identity. The new space, however, has “instilled a new sense of pride” across the company, thanks to its prime riverfront location, access to daylight and views, collaboration spaces that honor design traditions, and individual flexibility.  

Since relocating in 2024, we’ve heard this sentiment echoed by staff across our Chicago-based team. “When the elevator door opens, I feel inspired,” says Associate Principal Jeff Zdenahlik of SCB’s Residential practice group. “Our group’s interactions have been greatly enhanced with the variety of convenient co-working spaces.”

Patrick Branagan, an Associate in SCB’s Campus Environments practice group, says the new office has “transformed how I work, from starting the morning in the café overlooking the Chicago skyline to moving throughout the office untethered by my computer. It feels geared towards collaboration, with each space tailored to fit a different facet of the day.”

The SCB Headquarters offers clients a tangible sense of our contextual and high-performing approach to workplace design. Aaron Gertz, Managing Partner at Pine Cove Investments, comments that he was “blown away when I first walked into SCB’s space. The attention to detail was incredible – the team thought of every corner when designing it.”

“It doesn’t feel like an office, but more like an art gallery,” says Ashlee Pforr of Skender, who was the project manager for the SCB office. 

As designers continue to understand changing workplace attitudes and priorities, it’s only natural to apply these lessons to our own environments. Our headquarters exemplifies how SCB balances legacy and brand with modern strategies that promote employee well-being.