WINNER! Gardner Skelton by Little Diversified Architectural Consulting

Meet 2025 Next Work Environment Competition winner of the “Adaptive Reuse” category: Little Diversified Architectural Consulting and their Gardner Skelton, workplace submission.

The Little Diversified Architectural Consulting team, Ashley Hall & Jennilyn Schuster, shattered legal workplace stereotypes, transforming a 1960s industrial relic into a joyful, wellness-driven, art-infused hub that celebrates connection, creativity, and community.

See The Full Submission Below

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Quotes From the 2025 Next Work Environment Competition Jury

I’m obsessed with this project. The vibe is uniquely warm and happy. This represents a big jump from the conventional law office. Well done!

Its transformation into a vibrant, human-centered, and wellness-focused environment challenges the very idea of what a law firm can be. The design vision began with a storytelling exercise: If this building could talk, what would it say? Responses like “I want to be happy, healthy, filled with green things” became the guiding principles. Every decision, from programming to finishes, was filtered through the firm’s anti-corporate ethos, creating a workplace that is approachable, joyful, and deeply connected to its community.

At the heart of the concept is The Leash, a fluid pink design element that winds through floors, walls, and ceilings, physically and metaphorically linking work zones, gathering spaces, art installations, and the outdoor garden. It symbolizes connection, freedom, and the firm’s pet-friendly culture.

Gardner Skelton’s headquarters proves that adaptive reuse can be more than preservation; it can become a platform for connection, joy, and a healthier future workplace.

Original concrete floors, exposed steel trusses, and historic brickwork were preserved to honor the building’s history. Strategic window openings and roll-up garage doors flood the interiors with daylight, while flexible office “bands” stop short of the ceiling to maintain openness and visual connection to original architectural features. Well-being is embedded in every detail: height-adjustable desks, biophilic planting, photometric lighting, showers, bike storage, EV charging, and a dedicated wellness room. Outdoor areas are equally intentional, featuring a raised-seating garden, community table, herb plantings, and a bubbling rock dog fountain.

Art plays a pivotal role in storytelling. The street-facing mural features iconic real and fictional attorneys, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Abraham Lincoln, and the firm’s founders, offering a vibrant, approachable public face. Inside, a collaborative arts workshop produced a multidimensional mixed-media mural that reflects the culture of creativity and connection.

The project not only meets modern workplace demands for flexibility, sustainability, and employee well-being, but also acts as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization. It is the first building in its area to bring sidewalks, public art, and active commercial use to a once- industrial corridor.

Quantitative Benefits:

15% reduction in impervious site area, improving stormwater management
Increased daylight penetration to 80% of occupied spaces
Expanded green space replacing the former asphalt lot
Passive ventilation through garage doors and operable windows
Pet-friendly policy enhances employee satisfaction and reduces stress

Gardner Skelton’s headquarters proves that adaptive reuse can be more than preservation; it can become a platform for connection, joy, and a healthier future workplace.