GMAC Mortgage Corporation

Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

When GMAC Morttgage Corporation made the decision to relocate their Corporate Headquarters, and operations center, time was of critical importance as they were growing very rapidly and they had no expansion space in their current locations. A convenient location for their new facility was also important because they did not want to lose valued employees due to the relocation. Space Design Incorporated was given the challenge to act on a fast track basis, to assist GMAC in locating an appropriate building and designing a space within the selected building which would be functional and efficient, yet light and open in feeling. Several options for locations were reviewed and two buildings containing nine floors in the Breyer Office Park in Elkins Park, PA were selected. These buildings were already under construction when they were selected, saving GMAC Mortgage a substantial amount of time from the outset. Our Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) system also played a key role in meeting their fast track schedule by producing construction documents quickly and efficiently and allowing changes to be made in the plans with little effort.

As design development began, it was determined that certain functions such as kitchens, copying rooms and conference rooms were necessary on every floor. To accommodate these functions, blocks of spaces were added to the building core leaving the remainder of the floor open for workstations. Glass block was used to allow natural light into the elevator lobby and a combination of color stained cherry and natural cherry was used as accent giving color, texture and warmth to the space. After developing workstation standards for each task and function, Space Design Incorporated implemented a furniture system analysis process. This gave GMAC the tools necessary to select a system based on quality, function and pricing. The open space was designed with a combination of panel heights and glazed panels to allow maximum light into the space.

The location gave GMAC the flexibility to expand and valued employees were retained. Properly designed workstations allow employees to perform their tasks more efficiently and effectively. The design of the interiors gives GMAC a feeling of openness, light, and efficiency.