FEAT. CARR, RIGGS & INGRAM

CARR, RIGGS & INGRAM

LOCATION: Metairie, Louisiana

PROGRAM: Corporate Headquarters

STATUS: Complete 2024

PROJECT TEAM: GOAT (Architecture and Interiors); YKH Consulting (MEP Engineering); Ryan Gootee General Contractors (General Contractor); Daniel Bell, LLC (Millwork)

Carr, Riggs & Ingram (CRI) is a nationally recognized accounting and advisory firm based in Alabama, with locations across North America. In 2023, the firm engaged GOAT to create a new space for its New Orleans team that was more reflective of the impressive company culture they have built over the years. The new offices are on the 14th floor of one of the Lakeway Towers in Metairie, with approximately 15,000 SF for their 60+ current employees, plus room for future growth and flexibility.

The triangular floor plate presented a space planning challenge to GOAT as well as an opportunity to capitalize on sweeping panoramic views of Lake Pontchartrain and the city. Rather than conceal these views behind opaque walls of offices, GOAT arranged the space to highlight them from nearly every spot within the project, allowing natural daylight to penetrate the entire floor plate. The point of the triangle, typically an executive office or conference space elsewhere in the building, has been dedicated to a generous team lounge, ensuring every team member has equal access to the best vistas.

GOAT team: Paula Bechara, Joanna Tanasescu, Colin VanWingen, Peter Spera III

Team Lounge with panoramic views of Lake Pontchartrain. Image courtesy of RGGC

The interior design was developed mindfully to both create an intuitive wayfinding tool for visitors, as well as to distinguish each individual department of the practice: blue equals shared spaces, while the primary practice areas are each designated with their own colors. Offices and open workspaces run along the two main corridors, meeting at the apex of the triangle, the shared lounge area. These open workspaces each have pop-ups in the ceiling, playfully differentiating the three departments and visually enlarging the space. Glass partitions in each office and conference space maximize natural light and provide views for all the firm's employees, even from their interior desks.

Central open work area with perimeter offices. Image courtesy of RGGC

The reception feature wall was custom designed using the CRI logo, fabricated out of multiple layers of CNC routed plywood, and truly marks the space as CRI’s own. Overall, the space’s design suggests a highly organized practice and the finishes create an exceptionally clean, bright atmosphere befitting an accounting firm with CRI’s sterling reputation. The egalitarian approach to space planning and playful use of material & color are hallmarks of GOAT innovative approach to creating top-in-class workplaces.

Images courtesy of RGGC and GOAT.