Thinking local: small-town Louisiana inspires world-class design

Community focus and natural features showcase unique site

CenturyLink Headquarters is situated on a 77-acre site in Monroe, Louisiana. Not only does it include an old pecan grove, the site has frontage along scenic Bayou Desiard. After experiencing significant growth, the Fortune 200 company needed to expand the campus and build new facilities to attract and retain some of the best minds in communications and technology.

Recognizing the challenges of pulling in world-class talent to small-town northern Louisiana, our project team drew inspiration from two major assets: the surrounding close-knit community and the area’s natural features. Our resulting design created an inspiring research and development hub that promotes a collaborative “work anywhere” office neighborhood, celebrates the site’s unique resources, and leaves a small environmental footprint.

Varied spaces create character and connection

The focal point of the CenturyLink site is a 2.2-acre courtyard situated between the HQ office building and new 300,000-square-foot Technology Center of Excellence. Our design goals for the courtyard included creating a comfortable environment with a strong experiential quality, providing multiple spaces with varied character, and using the outdoor environment to help connect the two buildings.

Elements and forms of the pecan grove, bayou, and radial Technology Center serve as converging themes that establish the courtyard’s framework and sub-spaces.