Cummins Office Building

First opened in 1983, the Cummins global headquarters was originally designed by celebrated architect, Kevin Roche, in a city with a collection of significant architecture by world renowned architects, made possible by the Cummins Foundation.

The task of renovating the Cummins Office Building (COB), would need to go beyond honoring Roche’s hand, however. The true challenge was respecting its defining elements, octagonal columns, precast concrete walls with narrow horizontal bands of glass and mirrors, north-facing glazing, and skylights intended to maximize light while minimizing energy consumption – a response of its time at the end of the 1970s energy crisis – while bringing the headquarters in line with the more contemporary “Cummins Smart Office” strategy, which prioritizes employee experience by elevating mobility, flexibility, collaboration, and socialization.

Our design team began by meticulously studying every iconic detail of Roche’s original design and created a set of design guidelines reflective of the original motivation and mechanics. This activated a thoughtful renovation that improved acoustic and energy performance, wayfinding, and lighting levels, alongside the introduction of daylit collaboration spaces and work desk neighborhoods. The boldest modification to the building was on the facades facing the garden and historic Cerealine Building, where concrete walls were replaced with clear glazing to provide greater visibility and access to nature while respecting the horizontal banding and wall structure of the original design.