Johnson & Johnson Minneapolis Office

Johnson & Johnson acquired Pfizer Consumer Healthcare in late 2006, necessitating the two companies to combine their Minneapolis offices. Despite the merger, there were still concerns about confidentiality between competing clients, and as such the space includes two designated “Plan-O-Gram” rooms, areas with shelving mocked-up to replicate a client’s retail merchandising display. The main lobby functions as a primary physical buffer between these two spaces; it even features symmetrical reception desks to limit interaction between visiting clients.

In the midst of such redundancy, the space definitely needed a unifying element. Johnson & Johnson has an impressive company credo; designers made this credo a prominent architectural feature by incorporating it into a double-sided etched glass design that catches the eye immediately upon entering the suite.

The break area design took on special importance as another avenue to encourage unity and interaction between the merging staff. A warm, open space partially visible from the staff work areas, it features both banquette and bar seating to foster daily small group conversations while being flexible enough to act as a venue for large staff gatherings on special occasions.