Holmes Murphy Headquarters

Holmes Murphy, a national insurance brokerage, grappled with a significant issue in their previous headquarters: a disjointed workspace that reinforced departmental separation and hierarchy. The layout featured exterior offices for management and poorly lit, open work areas for the rest of the staff. Communal spaces were isolated on the ground floor, further disconnecting team members. This arrangement starkly contrasted with the company’s progressive and team-centric culture, and a transformation was sorely needed.

Substance Architecture’s design for Holmes Murphy's new corporate headquarters in Waukee, IA, seamlessly blends with the progressive culture the company espouses. Located in a suburban development rich in outdoor amenities, the new two-story building features two precast concrete and glass office wings surrounding a central, light-filled atrium. This open atrium serves as the social 'heart' of the building, offering communal dining and gathering spaces, and even extending outdoors to a large terrace. This architectural renewal clearly resonates with the core values of Holmes Murphy, shaping not just a new building but a revitalized organizational culture.