Samaha Associates, PC
Fairfax, VA
It’s a unique occasion when an architect designs their own space. Samaha took the opportunity to exercise an early lease termination at their former office to seek a new space and create an improved environment for their dedicated team. Our goals included finding a location in a walkable community near mass transit within easy commuting distance of our current staff. We searched for a dynamic space that reflected our principles of design for sustainability, daylighting, and wellbeing.
We found our new home in the Mosaic District in the Merrifield area of Fairfax County, just south of the Dunn Loring Metro Station. The dynamic campus hosts a great combination of dining, retail, and entertainment all within a few steps a class ‘A’ office building that had recently been vacated, allowing us to select our preferred location within the open structure.
Our new 4th floor end-cap office with a south-southeast exposure is flooded with daylight and views from every workspace. Collaboration is core to our culture at Samaha, and our new design promotes flexibility in the work environment and organic teamwork in our approach. All ‘L’ shaped workstations in our studio are powered to raise to standing height. The studio is surrounded by supporting workspaces for private quiet use, material layout and selection, large team meetings, and small informal huddles. Our shared space includes a large all-staff meeting room, cardio gym, wellness room, and private showers.
Our new office within the Silver Certified LEED for Neighborhood Development is a dynamic yet calming environment focused on wellbeing. The design is supported by several biophilic design principles including connection to natural views, use of natural materials and patterns, and a high density of plant life within the space. Acoustical design was incorporated through open ceiling baffles, felt patterned wall surfaces, sound isolating flooring underlayment, and sculptural acoustic elements.
A lively energy permeates our new spaces. Teammates regularly take walking breaks together outside our office for coffee and pastries. We believe the new space allows our firm to have greater access to hiring and retaining the best talent and provides our team with an environment commensurate with their professionalism and dedication to our client’s success.
