Trigon

Commonwealth Architects lead the team that developed and is implementing a master plan for Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shields’ new corporate campus at their current headquarters site in Richmond, Virginia. The first phase consists of a new headquarters building and three-level parking deck. The second phase will involve the complete renovation of the existing headquarters building.

As part of the Trigon Development Team, Commonwealth Architects designed a new five-story, 280,000 square foot building with glass, aluminum, and pre-cast concrete exterior. The design includes raised-access flooring throughout office areas of both buildings, which allows maximum flexibility, enabling Trigon to run all Mechanical, Electrical, and Technical systems throughout the flooring with accessible portals in every workstation. The main lobby for the campus, located in the new headquarters building, was designed with a strong public relationship to the new entry plaza. This design element required the relocation of primary site access to the intersection of Staples Mill Road and Marshall Street.

The renovation to the existing 265,000 square foot building includes the replacement of all windows, and partial enclosure of existing covered outdoor spaces to match the new building’s exterior. A sixty-foot-wide connector joins the new building to the existing one. Commonwealth Architects placed a strong emphasis on creating a campus environment, with new structures and landscaping arranged to create pedestrian pathways and outdoor spaces between buildings.

The new three-level parking deck was designed to minimize visual impact; the top level aligns with the first floor level of both buildings and is connected by a pedestrian bridge.