The Permian Basin is one of the largest sedimentary basins in North America, spanning 75,000 square miles from eastern New Mexico to western Texas. This area has been drawing the eyes of economists and geologists alike since the early 1900s as it spews roughly 4 million barrels of oil per day. Located within this oil mecca is the city of Midland, Texas, coined as one of North America’s oil industry headquarters. Here, Remote Architecture and Fox Fox Studio collaboratively designed an office for Kennedy Minerals. The project was aptly named MT7, as it is located on the seventh floor of Midland Tower. Together, the architecture firms designed a workspace that is both functional and inviting. It ties to the surrounding geography and history through reusing original structural elements and reintroducing geological materials.
Midland Tower was built in 1948 right next to Centennial Park and directly across from the Petroleum Building, cornering the small city as being an oil business capital. This area is currently undergoing revitalization efforts, which makes it only fitting that the 6,540-square-foot office for Kennedy Minerals piggybacked off this growing makeover. Primarily an office building, Midland Tower also has a restaurant, two bars, and an additional coworking space located in the plinth of the structure. Stephen “Chick” Rabourn, founder of Remote Architecture, shared that “due to the fluctuations of the oil business, offices in Midland tend to get thrown together quickly and cheaply, then either abandoned or re-renovated in a short time span.” He continued, “Persuading the contractors and vendors that we were building a permanent headquarters where the quality of the details actually mattered was a constant challenge throughout the project.”
Read more about the office on aninteriormag.com.