MapQuest celebrated its 15th anniversary on April 25 with a new office space located in the Denver’s LoDo (Lower Downtown) neighborhood. The company says its new 17,000-square-foot space combines raw materials with a contemporary design to deliver a start-up feeling. There are no actual offices, encouraging real-time dialogue, problem-solving and creativity.

IA Interior Architects was tasked with the challenge to help MapQuest bring its new identity to life within the walls of the office space. The solution was to provide the feel, look and energy of a young upstart company. The integrity of the raw architecture was enhanced with the addition of metal, glass and recycled materials from local resources. The end result is that of a highly sustainable solution.

One of the biggest challenges facing IA Interior Architects and project lead, Stephanie Schimtz, was the fast-track schedule. With an accelerated timeline of just five months from ideation to relocation, the team executed construction of the space in seven weeks. During this short time frame, the design team was able to keep the space raw, but managed to obtain the “start up” feel that MapQuest felt was inherent to the new vibe of the brand.

“In addition to the start-up feel, MapQuest also wanted the construction and space to be environmentally conscious,” says Schimtz, project manager.