When The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company (HSB) began envisioning its workplace of the future, the challenge was twofold: how to foster connection and collaboration across a large, geographically complex floor plate, while still supporting the focused, heads-down work that a global insurance and technology services company requires. The 8th floor of HSB’s riverfront headquarters presented a particularly challenging building geometry that needed to be tamed before any vision for the space could be realized.

Working closely with HSB, the design team developed a “neighborhood” model that organizes the 20,000 sf floor around a central hub, connecting the company’s various work communities through an intuitive circulation spine. A serpentine boulevard, defined by a graphic mural, guides occupants through the space with natural wayfinding, minimizing disruption to office staff while maintaining seamless access to social and collaborative areas. The diverse mix of workspace types, from private focus areas to open collaboration zones, gives employees the freedom to choose the setting that best supports their work at any given moment.

The result is a workplace that actively encourages movement, connection, and choice. As employees have transitioned back from remote work, HSB reports that the new spaces are consistently well used, with staff embracing the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues in an environment designed for both productivity and community. The use of warm, natural materials, including cork and felt wallcoverings and engineered wood flooring, reinforces a sense of comfort and belonging, and the success of the 8th floor has made it a proven prototype for additional floors HSB occupies in the building.