Project Overview

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is the country’s oldest member services group, founded in 1871 to serve insurance regulators in each state. The NAIC’s broad group of members come together to serve insurance consumers. With more than 600 local employees, the organization understands the impact that its workplace can have on associates’ productivity and wellbeing. Its new workplace brings employees together in a connected community.

Project Details

As lead designer for the NAIC workplace, I guided a visioning and programming process that redefined how the organization’s space could better support its evolving culture and ways of working. Through close collaboration with stakeholders across multiple departments, we identified opportunities to break down silos, strengthen community, and create a cohesive workplace experience. This process informed a shift toward a more flexible and intentional workplace model, rooted in how work is actually performed across the organization.

To support these goals, the office transitioned to a free-address environment organized into neighborhoods that balance focus and collaboration. Traditional assigned workstations were replaced with shared work areas supported by a greater variety of collaborative settings, while free-address private offices remain available for quiet, focused work. By reducing the overall footprint, the project created space for enhanced employee amenities that encourage choice, movement, and connection throughout the day.

A central feature stair was introduced to link multiple floors and serve as a social and circulation spine for the workplace. The floor plans were developed around this connecting element, with amenity spaces strategically placed nearby to encourage movement and create distinct destinations on each level. This approach reinforces a sense of community while supporting a more active, engaging workplace experience.

Employee wellness and sustainability were integral to the design approach. Biophilic materials, daylight access, and a natural, timeless palette were used to create calm, welcoming interiors that reflect the organization’s values. Despite site limitations, indoor–outdoor connections were strengthened through a terrace space designed as a seamless extension of the workplace. Responsible stewardship guided material and planning decisions, including the reuse of existing walls, ceilings, and furniture, retention of over 350 workstations and offices, and recycling of existing carpet tile. The result is a workplace that supports NAIC’s long-term vision while using resources thoughtfully and intentionally.

Specifications