The Collaborative Space is an adaptive reuse project within an existing 8,700-square-foot area boasting 20-foot-high ceilings. Centrally situated in a prominent mixed-use urban development in Santurce, the space features direct street-level access on the first floor and secondary access to an upper level connecting to the development’s elevated plaza. Located in a district recognized as a hub for the arts, creativity, and innovation, the project’s design embodies its surroundings while fostering interaction and collaboration.
Conceptually, the space is envisioned as a small town organized around a central "plaza," a dynamic gathering area where individuals naturally converge to share ideas, energy, and creativity. Two "main streets" frame this central hub, intersected by a striking floating staircase that links the mezzanine and second-story entrance. Along the eastern street, key programmatic elements are distributed: beginning with the main 20-seat conference room adjacent to the reception area, continuing with additional meeting rooms, and concluding with restroom facilities and a versatile 30-person auditorium that can be divided into two smaller rooms as needed. Glass facades along this street allow eastern light to flood the reception and plaza areas, creating a bright and welcoming atmosphere.
The northern street incorporates steps and a ramp to accommodate a 30-inch level difference, seamlessly integrating various interactive zones of diverse spatial qualities. This area predominantly features an open floor plan that fosters communication, collaboration, and resource-sharing. Two glass-enclosed cubicles hover within the open space, while three smaller two-person meeting rooms, designed as wooden "casitas," line the southern wall. These casitas, inspired by Puerto Rican culture, are adorned with printed images that reflect the island’s identity and vision. The mezzanine, approximately 900 square feet in size, offers a tranquil retreat for focused work, with the staircase functioning as a lightwell that illuminates both the mezzanine and the main conference room below.
The overarching design intent is to create an open, shared space that encourages interaction, highlights local materials and resources in juxtaposition with exposed existing elements, and achieves significant sustainability goals.
This Collaborative Space was conceived for a local nonprofit organization to serve as a hub for multiple nonprofits dedicated to advancing Puerto Rico’s economic transformation. These non-partisan organizations work collaboratively across all sectors of society to identify and capitalize on opportunities for Puerto Rico to integrate into the global economy. The design reflects the collaborative and dynamic spirit of its users, ensuring flexibility to adapt to new projects and emerging organizations.
The project is guided by three principal objectives: