NEW YORK (March 21, 2023) – Ware Malcomb, an award-winning international design firm, today announced that construction is complete on a new office project for Compass, the largest residential real estate brokerage in the U.S. by sales volume. Ware Malcomb provided interior architecture and design services for the 7,000 square foot space, located in Potomac, MD.
Founded in 2012 and headquartered in New York City, Compass is a technology-enabled brokerage known for its end-to-end platform that empowers its real estate agents to deliver exceptional service to seller and buyer clients. Guided by its mission to help everyone find their place in the world, Compass has opened a new space in Potomac to support the needs of its growing agent and client base in the area. Since 2020, Ware Malcomb has worked with Compass to design more than 80 offices across 20 states.
The firm worked with Compass to develop a retail-oriented street front presence for the project, according to Anthony Simon, Director, Retail Architecture & Design for Ware Malcomb’s New York City office. “The location’s retail frontage design uniquely highlights their customer service model and property offerings,” said Simon. “Compass’ design serves to inspire and reinforce their clients’ desire to purchase a home.”
“The Potomac office is a showcase example of the design aesthetic Compass’s offices are known for,” said Marlyn Zucosky, Regional Director, Interior Architecture & Design for Ware Malcomb’s New Jersey offices. “It is always an exciting design exercise to customize our client’s design standards to reflect each location in innovative ways to translate the distinct Compass brand.
Multiple offices within Ware Malcomb collaborated to execute this project. Retail team members in New York, interior architecture and design staff in New Jersey and local Washington, D.C. team members all contributed to the success of the project.
“This project is a great example of Ware Malcomb’s one team approach to everything we do. Team members across the company worked seamlessly together to deliver this project for Compass in the Potomac market,” says Michael Christensen, Regional Director for Ware Malcomb’s Washington, D.C. office.
Following Compass’s established design concept, the Potomac office location welcomes visitors with a marble reception desk and a half-height wall wrapped in a black wood herringbone veneer with prominent company logo. A conference room is located directly off the reception for easy guest access and street views. The open office area beyond features a bright and airy feel with high exposed ceilings, which along with the walls are finished all in white.
Contrasting this bright aesthetic are black carpet tile, linear LED pendant lights and black-framed glass office fronts. Pendant fixtures above the workstations were installed on an angle to provide the feeling of movement in the space. A common feature in Compass’ designs, shared team rooms replace individual offices and range in size to accommodate two to five people each. The office design incorporates a generously sized eat-in pantry with a long high-top table and kitchen amenities integrated into black and white millwork highlighted by penny-tile backsplash.
General contracting services for the project were provided by RP Builders. Project Management services were provided by Watchdog.
About Ware Malcomb (waremalcomb.com)
Established in 1972, Ware Malcomb is a contemporary and expanding full-service design firm providing professional architecture, planning, interior design, civil engineering, branding and building measurement services to corporate, commercial/residential developer and public/institutional clients throughout the world. With office locations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil, the firm specializes in the design of commercial office, corporate, industrial, science & technology, healthcare, retail, auto, public/institutional facilities and renovation projects. Ware Malcomb is recognized as an Inc. 5000 “Fastest Growing Private Company” and a “Hot Firm” by Zweig Group. The firm is also ranked among the top 30 architecture/engineering firms in Engineering News-Record’s “Top 500 Design Firms” and the top 30 interior design firms in Interior Design magazine’s “Top 100 Giants.” For more information, visit and view Ware Malcomb’s Ware Malcomb’s website at https://waremalcomb.com/news/ and brand video at https://www.youtube.com/waremalcomb.
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