Buncher Company

Experiential Graphics, Interior & Wayfinding Signage

Location
United States

Designer
FRANK Studio at Perkins Eastman Architects
Creative Director: Kendall Tynes
Design Lead: Christopher Lum

DISCLAIMER: All content, imagery and rights belong to Perkins Eastman Architects© 2023.

Jack Buncher’s vision of “giving life and revitalization to what had been deemed by others to be unusable” is reflected in his company’s roots. The Buncher Company was originally founded as a family scrap metal business in the 1930s and later transitioned into a development company focused on underutilized riverfront property.

This rich history and a unique corporate structure—the company is currently owned by a consortium of six nonprofit organizations—serve as a point of pride among employees and is celebrated in the new office design. A combination of recycled materials, raw metalwork, natural wood, and exposed concrete floors create a material palette that is warm and refined while reflecting the company’s modest, “scrappy” history.

Environmental graphics and a history display further showcase the company’s legacy and promote the new branding. Research and feedback received through interviews, surveys, and workshops yielded a floor plan that is roughly half the size of Buncher’s existing offices but offer new opportunities to promote collaboration and support cultural change. Standard sized offices with glass fronts are held away from the perimeter, signaling organizational transparency and allowing all employees to have equal access to daylight and views of the Allegheny River.

A large pantry that opens directly to the board room is designed to support potlucks, all-hands meetings, and events. Employee health and wellness is promoted through a wellness/meditation room, an upgraded HVAC system with visible energy dashboard, and materials that meet transparency and indoor environmental quality criteria.