Electric Works
High-performance workplaces sparking discovery at every turn
- Client
- Ancora
- Location
- Indiana, United States
- Size
- 112,000 square feet
- Status
- Completed
- LEED Gold
Illuminate opportunity. Unleash unexpected innovation. These beliefs were hallmarks of General Electric (GE) as it forged breakthrough paths around lighting technology, motor power, female empowerment and much more throughout the late 19th and 20th century.
Today, one of GE’s epicenters in Fort Wayne, Indiana, that originally opened in 1883, has been reimagined to ignite that ingenuity culture again. Once a manufacturing campus from a different era, Electric Works has become a novel mixed-use district of innovation, culture and community seamlessly integrated into the city’s downtown.
In its entirety, Electric Works spans 39 acres and creates new opportunities for work, recreation, housing, retail, education and more. It is a stunning urban solution that supports a brighter future for Fort Wayne.
Our team worked with key partners to design high-performance workplaces and office space throughout the complex.
The design offers two adjacent work environments. The first is a large forum, which includes a conference center and event space, while the second is a co-working zone with associated amenities.
Everywhere there is choice, from quiet nooks to buzzing hubs. The space offers a landscape of options users and guests can choose from based on wherever creative sparks find them.
This breadth of work environments allows Electric Works to empower organizations of all types and scales, from start-ups to long standing companies and even short-term project teams. Surrounding the workspaces are state-of-the-art amenities, wellness offerings and indelible energy and culture.
Our design honors GE’s history of innovation while reimagining Electric Works for the future. Just as GE once pushed discovery forward, the campus now fuels entrepreneurship, fosters inclusion, builds connections and welcomes the community, creating a new center for innovation in the heart of Fort Wayne.
Testimonials
Throughout each dimension of the design, our team intentionally infused lighting, color, patterns and furniture to energize the shared collaborative spaces. Flexible furniture and desk areas allow for users to work via their preferred style and take charge of their day.
To ensure local culture and vibrancy, the design relies extensively on local manufacturers and artists. For help with art curation, we engaged Field Trip Art Advisory given their wonderful mission to “support local artists in order to engage the community, start a dialogue with visitors and ultimately invigorate local economy.”
GE’s legacy also echoes through stunning murals depicting key moments in the company’s history, copper chandeliers resembling patent drawings of the GE Dynamo Generator and a commitment to “innovative energy.” The team carried this idea forward with dynamic lighting, color and patterns throughout the spaces.
Beyond its local focus, the artwork selected for Electric Works also reinforces key messaging around inclusion, connectivity, human potential and bright ideas.
It all adds up to a remarkable new chapter for the storied GE campus in Fort Wayne. Electric Works redefines how work and ingenuity can drive a community forward.
