Gensler’s Philadelphia team created a dynamic interpretation of the modern workspace for AmerisourceBergen’s headquarters in Conshocken. A mix of natural materials and sleek surfaces, it explores the play between tech and craft. Because of Conshocken’s proximity to major railroad lines, the Schuylkill River, and natural resources, the area became a thriving manufacturing region in the 1800s. To honor the town’s legacy of makers, Gensler gravitated toward materials that referenced handiwork and craftmanship. Provenance’s reclaimed white oak was an ideal fit and was incorporated into many of the headquarter’s most striking features. 

With its complex geometrical structure, the monumental staircase is the centerpiece of the 430,000-square-foot building. A steel sub-frame clad in Provenance’s wood, it weaves through the building and leads to amenity spaces such as the grab-and-go market and speciality coffee shop. Bench-like oak platforms punctuate the stairs and promote interaction between departments. The gem-like staircase also provides a gentle nudge toward wellness, inspiring employees to stroll down a flight of steps instead of relying on elevators for one-floor trips. 

When employees do step onto the elevators, they’re enveloped in reclaimed oak and glass, which echoes the tech versus craft theme. The wood also extends out to the lobby walls in an eye-catching diagonal pattern. Provenance’s team worked closely with Gensler to bring this complex feature to life, drawing up several design options of the angular composition. After Gensler zeroed in on one, we sorted through our vast inventory with an exacting grading process to ensure the wood incorporated in the design had a consistent grain and character throughout. The selected boards were then affixed to plywood substrate and CNC’d into panels of multiple shapes and sizes. This allowed for ease of installation, yet still gave the illusion of a seamless surface on the wall.

The theme continues in the cafeteria with a dramatic trellis that acts as a porous divider of space. Constructed of oak boards embedded with LED lights, the beams provide a humanizing element in the expansive room. Provenance’s live sawn white oak flooring further unifies the space, spilling from a central stairway into multiple terraces and the technology center. In addition to its visual impact, the wood helped earn the building a LEED Silver Certification, which is right in step with Provenance’s commitment to reuse and sustainability. A compelling combination of textures and shapes, Gensler’s design honors the past while looking solidly to the future.