Paying Homage to Transportation in Plano, TX

Perkins&Will draws inspirations from transportation to create an office of motion and wellbeing for Stonebriar Commercial Finance.

Stonebriar Commercial Finance’s custom office draws inspiration from the world of transportation. The space pays an elegant homage to the financial firm’s primary focus—the transportation industry—with themes of streamlined motion, clean lines dramatized by black accents, and materiality that echoes major modes of transport. A statement office and dynamic home for work, the amenity-rich space is designed to bring people together and adapt to daily needs in an environment that nurtures well-being.

Studying forms and patterns across modes of transport, the Perkins&Will design team translated speed, strength, and directionality into architecture. With pronounced angles and crisp definition, the space feels aerodynamic. The reception area sets the tone: strong alignment guides the eye, connecting each element and creating a sense of fluidity and movement—a continuous line pulling you forward. The theme of angularity and forward motion continues throughout, intensified with the bold yet sophisticated palette and brightened by a layout that drinks in natural light and views. 

Sharp, clean metal and glass are softened by natural materials like wood veneer and stone, creating a modern and inviting atmosphere. In certain areas the flooring itself marries industrial and natural aesthetics, arranging the cool palette of black, white, and grey in fluid, organic patterns. What’s striking is the versatility of the black throughout. On the connecting stair, black metal runs alongside two tones of smoky glass, contrasting with the black soapstone on nearby millwork. This play of light and depth gives the office an expressive material language but keeps the palette cohesive.

The socially oriented space is made to be flexible and to draw employees out of private offices, toward each other. With a putting green and golf simulator, fitness and wellness rooms to blow off steam, and multiple spaces to socialize throughout—including a speakeasy—the office is designed to combine high functionality with space for authentic connection. Private offices and private meeting spaces are positioned along the perimeter, with collaborative and amenity spaces toward the center. This arrangement is a stark contrast to Stonebriar’s previous space, where inefficient paths to meeting space meant employees rarely left their private offices at all. Early feedback suggests a palpable shift in energy among the team. The adjacency of the collaboration and amenity areas is key to the space’s fluidity: the golf area next to open conference space means employees can work on their short game while hosting a meeting. Thoughtful acoustic design ensures the buzz of collaboration and events doesn’t become a distraction. 

Nearly every space is multifunctional, down to the details, turning each area into a kind of blank canvas. Cantilevered sit-to-stand desks help clear unnecessary structure from private offices, allowing these rooms to host meetings for up to five people. In meeting rooms, black back-painted glass turns walls into functional, writeable surfaces while camouflaging powered-down mounted screens when the room transforms for events or social gatherings.

The client’s openness to fresh ideas allowed for bold choices with this project, like the pursuit of LEED Silver, meaningful material selections that tell the client’s story, alternative approaches to collaborative space, and a speakeasy born from an offhand comment. Sparking enthusiasm, the speakeasy idea became one of the standout elements of the space. Where the office at large reflects industrial-scale movement, this more intimate space takes inspiration from freeform, human-scale motion—dancing in the shade of an arched urban underpass.

Project Planning

The client was very involved in the initial planning process, identifying their goals of creating a high-functioning, amenity-rich space that would encourage interpersonal connection amongst the staff, as well as meeting ESG and LEED Silver goals. The client trusted the design team to develop creative concepts that were tailored to their specific needs and company image, which led to innovative spaces such as the speakeasy and the golf simulator that connects to the conference space.

Project Details

One of the standout features of the space is the speakeasy. In contrast to the transportation theme of the overall office’s design concept, the speakeasy concept honed in on human-scaled movement. It is meant to be an intimate environment with a romantic and moody ambiance, inspired by the idea of couples dancing underneath an archway in a European city. The space is multi-use, as it can be used as a private area for focused work, or as a collaborative room for brainstorms, or even as an overflow space for large events.

All products and materials used in this project underwent rigorous vetting to meet the client’s ESG and LEED Silver goals. Materials were reviewed for certifications such as Environmental Product Declarations, Health Product Declarations, Red List Free, GreenGuard, LBC Red List, and Indoor Air Advantage. Furniture was also vetted for these certifications and for compliance with Perkins&Will’s precautionary list.

The project enhanced resiliency by integrating a high-performance HVAC system with individual thermal controls and CO2 sensors, ensuring optimal air quality and comfort. It emphasized sustainable design, contributing to environmental and energy efficiency goals. The indoor environment supports universal accessibility beyond ADA requirements, featuring adjustable lighting, varied thermal controls, and a range of acoustic options to accommodate diverse needs. These measures create a welcoming and adaptable space, fostering productivity and well-being for all occupants.

Products 

Acoustical Ceiling Panel – Armstrong, GypSorb, Topakustik

Acoustical Wall Panel – Fitzfelt, Neteren Cretox, Designtex

Artificial Grass – Grass Partners

Carpet – Milliken, Flor

Demountable Walls – Dirtt

Direct Attach Ceiling – Armstrong

Engineer Stone – Infinity, Cosento

Fabric – HBF Textiles

Glass – Carvart, Glaspro

Glass Markerboard – Clarus, Carvart

Laminate – Abet Laminati, Wilsonart

Metal Base – Fry Reglet

Metal Trim – Schluter, Fry Reglet

Microtopping – Ardex

Motorized Window Shades – SWF Contract

Painting – Sherwin Williams

Plaster – Southwest Progressive

Resilient Base – Tarkett

Rubber Flooring – Allstate

Stone – Stone Source, Arizona Tile

Tile – Tilebar, Nemo

Wall Covering – Porto Teleo

Wood Flooring- Woodwright

Overall Project Results

The client’s post-occupancy feedback has been very positive, noting that the office design has led to increased energy among staff members. The company’s leadership team said that the thoughtful amenities make their employees want to come back into the office—so much so that they are calling it “The Magnet.” The speakeasy in particular has been extensively utilized for a variety of purposes, including filming of podcast episodes.

Contributors:

Contractor: Balfour Beatty, Scott Journot, Project Manager

Accessibility: Johnson Kelley Associates

Audio / Visual / Telecom: Novom Group, Hailey Durham, Director of Business Development

Commissioning: CxL Building Services, Ryan Woolley, Director of Operations

Lighting: ALA, Lev Skolnik, Principal

MEP Engineer: AOS Engineer, LLC, Jordan Weatherred, Project Manager

Structural Engineer: L.A. Fuess Partners, Inc., Chris Matthews, Project Manager

Sustainability / Energy Code: Perkins&Will, Mary Dickinson, Regional Director of Regenerative Design

Stair Fabricator & Engineer: Big D Metalworks, Travis Rosenbury, Project Manager

Design Team

Ariel Lumry, IIDA, Senior Interior Project Designer, LinkedIn

Dana Weldon, IIDA, Project Manager, LinkedIn

Brandon Gendt, Technical Coordinator, LinkedIn

Mary Dickinson, Regional Director of Regenerative Design, LinkedIn

Photography

Garrett Rowland