RSM – Austin

Located in Austin, TX

Back to projects

With some of its employees having to work off-campus because of space issues, accounting firm RSM needed to find a larger home for its Austin office. RSM chose the 17th floor of a brand-new office building downtown because of its views overlooking the Colorado River, its proximity to amenities for employees, and because it was raw space that they could design to their liking. The company wanted the new office to stay true to the local aesthetic and be a showcase for visiting clients.

Floor-to-ceiling windows on all exterior walls bring natural light everywhere in the office. Workstations and offices are located along the perimeter on the north end, while the south end is the social gathering space, with reception off the elevator lobby, consulting conference rooms and a break room. The south end also overlooks the river, something clients can see clearly from reception through a full-glass partition. Designers worked with structural engineers to create a massive19-foot-long island in the social hub where employees can lay out their work, hang out in large groups, or have client meetings.

Neutral colors were used, with RSM brand colors like navy blue as accents. To highlight their city’s aesthetic, wood-look tile floors are in all of the main areas and accent walls have hot-rolled steel panels. Multiple custom murals by a local artist depict key areas of Austin. A large wood-look ceiling element was added in the social hub, requiring coordination with electrical, mechanical and structural engineers to camouflage the mechanical system and support structures.

RSM wanted to maintain some of the space’s raw look, so much of the exposed ceilings were kept, with drop-down clouds used in the office areas for acoustic purposes and in the social hub for aesthetics. Custom light fixtures that house the sprinklers, lights and diffusers all in one strip were designed so the ceiling maintained its clean look.

While the office has a hybrid work structure, most employees work in the office full-time and love hosting clients in the space.Put your header content here

in the Media: