While Cognex typically shies away from natural materials for a more “machined” look, the team wanted to take advantage of the existing exposed brick walls and beautiful heavy timber columns and beams, part of the historic structural system first built for furniture manufacturing. The suite had easy access to a common building entrance, lobby, and restrooms, but was awkwardly broken into multiple suites and common spaces. Existing exits, plumbing locations, and other utilities had to be accommodated. MMA combined these spaces into one, reorganizing the circulation entirely, including visitor and staff entries, while still carefully considering where existing value could be retained in door, wall, and plumbing locations. Open offices and glass-walled conference rooms flank the exterior wall, allowing light to penetrate deeper into the space. A break area is centrally located, with the robotics lab and testing room occupying interior spaces, as natural light is not desired in those areas. Conference rooms are outfitted with thoughtful AV capabilities and clear breakroom access for easy accommodation of the many client training sessions happening here.