Aquatic Capital

Chicago-based investment firm Aquatic Capital brings together finance professionals, engineers, and researchers in a culture defined by collaboration, intellectual rigor, and shared purpose. Formerly housed in a spec suite, and spurred by rapid growth, the client engaged OTJ to examine its workstyle and deliver a holistic, bespoke design solution that would accelerate the realization of business and human objectives.

Central to our creative effort was the search for the resolution of tension – a tension inherent to the duality of a workplace called upon to simultaneously navigate both physical and digital spaces. Dubbed “biophygital,” our design restores the connection between individuals and the natural world while supporting primarily cloud-based work. OTJ’s foundational investigation also maximized the alignment of our process with Aquatic’s own research-driven approach. The resulting performance-based design solution builds on the findings of an intensive five-hour visioning session paired with the observation of successful client teaming models, programmatic discovery, and the hands-on evaluation
of materials.

The new headquarters unfolds from entry through a sophisticated elevator lobby into a reception area anchored by a custom stone-and-wood desk accented by a biophilic wall element. The floor plan orchestrates open workspace complete with ample and immediately adjacent writing surfaces as well as phone booths, private offices, and tech-forward meeting rooms of varied configurations connected by a perimeter thoroughfare. Three ideation rooms punctuate the circulation route, offering moments to pause and reset. Nearby, a light-flooded, hospitality-inspired café, complete with booth seating, concealed pantry, retractable acoustic curtains, and a coffee bar, supports events and casual interaction. The Aquatic workplace also features a playful and purposefully analog set of amenities that includes a lounge with a ping pong table, a video game center, and a three-hole putting green. Together, these centrally located, high visibility amenities encourage tactile relaxation and present end-users with an unexpected forum for the exchange of ideas. The package is completed by a wood-slatted library intended for focused work
and research.

More than a mere conceptual term, Aquatic’s “biophygital” design is an exercise in harmonization that envelops staff in a sensory-rich environment where organic materials, curvilinear forms, and a soothing palette of finishes and colors converge to offset the intensity of digitally based work.