Daytonians take great pride in the area’s waterways and the Five Rivers MetroParks system, as well as the city’s rich history of industrial and technological innovation. As such, the rebrand of the Sixth River campus allowed RDL to preserve what mattered to area residents while creating new ways to enjoy the built and natural environment.

The reimagining of Sixth River (formerly the Miami Valley Research Campus) focused on five buildings located in Kettering, OH, a suburb of Dayton.  Creating beautiful, timeless, and engaging workspaces was at the heart of this project. RDL’s Interior Design and Placemaking Studios endeavored to upgrade the lobby designs for each office building and modernize the campus for 21st-century lifestyles. Employees now have the opportunity to enjoy the feel of nature that extends through the interior spaces to the outside patio areas.

Each office building features unique floor plates with varying lobby layouts; however, a thoughtful approach was taken to create cohesiveness throughout the campus. Specific material finishes including exposed concrete, natural patterned carpet tile flooring, earth-toned paint schemes, decorative light fixtures, wood millwork, and furnishings are common aspects enjoyed in each office.

The architectural scheme for Sixth River deliberately allows for harmony between the outdoors and the interior spaces.

Many of the lobby and adjacent shared tenant spaces have glass walls that visually connect users with the outdoors. RDL transformed shared common spaces to include a lounge area, a shared power bar, a presentation wall, a credenza, a self-serve coffee service, and a communal conference table. With the addition of a glass exterior door that leads to an outdoor lounge area, meetings can take place underneath ornamental trees amidst fountain grass in more seasonal months.

The project’s broader goal is to entice the younger workforce and compete with the more vibrant city core – or the comfort of working from home. The Sixth River work campus provides connectivity to everything the city has to offer in a natural environment.