Five Guys has been a Washington, D.C., area favorite since 1986, when Jerry and Janie Murrell offered sage advice to their four sons: “Start a business or go to college.” The business route won, and the Murrell family opened a carry-out burger joint in Arlington, Va. A fifth brother was born and, as the family grew, so did their business. Four more restaurants with sit-down seating were added to accommodate the growing clientele.
Five Guys International Headquarters is located in Arlington, Va. on the fifth floor of Carlyle Crescent’s 2,044 m2 (220,000-sf) Class A office building. Designed by OTJ Architects, the project honors the family-owned company’s origin with interiors using Rockfon stone wool and metal ceiling systems in on-brand colors.
Founding flavor
Since its founding, Five Guys has expanded its reach to more than 1,700 locations in 24 countries. With a stated goal of increasing spatial efficiency while accelerating the adoption of flexible work modalities, Five Guys’ leadership turned to OTJ Architects to lead the relocation of its headquarters and develop design solutions that draw team members back into a post-pandemic physical space that is equally agile, food-centric, humorous, and reflective of a globally celebrated brand persona.
Playful and irreverent, OTJ’s design subtly nods to the sense of nostalgia inherent to the Five Guys storefront aesthetic by weaving together the bold primary colors, logos, and classical typefaces. White subway tiles that contrast against black accents, reclaimed brick veneers, and wood elements underscore the visual hallmarks of the franchise.
In its group collaboration and training room, Rockfon Cubegrid Open Plenum 23.8 mm (0.94-in.) metal ceilings were finished in a chili red. Rockfon Color-all Charcoal and bright white Rockfon Sonar acoustic stone wool ceiling panels were selected for the enclosed meeting rooms and offices.
Working closely with the general contractor, HITT, the ceiling specialists at Anning-Johnson Company installed both the open plenum metal ceiling systems and 1,626 m2 (17,500 sf) of Rockfon’s acoustic ceiling tiles in Chicago Metallic 4000 Tempra 14 mm (0.56-in.) ceiling suspension system. HITT completed the 22-week,
3,437 m2 (37,000-sf) tenant fit-out in May 2023.
In addition to employees’ acoustic comfort, Rockfon stone wool ceiling panels contribute to their well-being. Rockfon Sonar and Color-all products are UL Greenguard Gold certified for office and educational environments. Products with this certification are recognized as supporting indoor air quality (IAQ).
“Metal ceilings are a practical choice for keeping office workers happy, healthy, and productive,” says Michael Thill, Rockfon, senior product manager, Grid & Metal Ceilings.
“One of the most versatile materials when it comes to design and performance, metal ceilings feature a variety of panel and open plenum systems, a nearly limitless color palette, and excellent acoustic capabilities up to a 0.95 NRC.”
Thill says colors can reflect a company’s logo, match existing carpet, or deliver sustainable woodgrain finishes. With the Five Guys International Headquarters, OTJ was able to maintain an open plenum, define the space, and match the burger chain’s brand identity all in one.”
Acoustic comfort
The ceiling’s metal grid design incorporates lighting and other acoustic baffle elements without fully concealing the mechanical equipment above. In the adjacent kitchen and meeting room, the HVAC equipment is painted red, and the plenum is fully exposed.
In the enclosed offices and meeting rooms, Rockfon Color-all in Charcoal and white stone wool ceiling panels were selected in three sizes: 0.6 x 0.6, 0.6 x 1.2, and 1.2 x 1.2 m (2 x 2, 2 x 4, and 4 x 4 ft).
Optimizing acoustics in these spaces, Rockfon Sonar and Rockfon Color-all stone wool ceiling panels deliver sound absorption with a very high noise reduction coefficient of up to 0.95.
All Rockfon acoustic ceiling tiles installed in Five Guys’ headquarters have a square tegular narrow edge that minimizes the ceiling suspension system’s visible grid lines while adding depth and texture to the ceiling plane. Within the enclosed areas, employees concentrate on productive focused taskwork and have private conversations.