Ware Malcomb completes Newark office for KS Engineers

Jessica Perry//February 9, 2022

Ware Malcomb announced the completion of construction for KS Engineers PC's new office at 2 Riverfront Plaza in Newark, for which it provided interior architecture and design services. — The blues used in the color palette for KS Engineer’s new office at 2 Riverfront Plaza in Newark, designed by Ware Malcomb, come from the engineering firm’s branding. – MICHAEL SLACK PHOTOGRAPHY

KS Engineers PC is setting up shop at a new office in Newark.

And design firm Ware Malcomb announced the completion of construction for the new digs at 2 Riverfront Plaza, on Feb. 8.

The firm, which has Garden State offices in Princeton and Newark, provided interior architecture and design services for the 30,000-square-foot project.

Project construction was led by general contractor SJP Properties.

According to Ware Malcomb, the design offers a welcoming environment for clients and consultants that unifies KSE’s employees and allows for streamlined communication–a significant goal of the project was to bridge the gap across different levels of staff, and departments, to foster collaboration.

KSE is an engineering, survey and construction management firm. It has nearly 200 employees and 48 licensed engineers, according to the firm’s appearance on the 2021 NJBIZ Engineering Firms list.

KS Engineers PC's redesigned office at 2 Riverfront Plaza in Newark includes numerous ways for employees to collaborate. Ware Malcomb provided interior architecture and design services. — KS Engineers PC’s redesigned office includes numerous ways for employees to collaborate. – MICHAEL SLACK PHOTOGRAPHY

KS Engineers PC's newly redesigned office at 2 Riverfront Plaza in Newark features a gaming area and virtual golf. Ware Malcomb provided interior architecture and design services. — The café at KS Engineers PC’s newly redesigned office features a gaming area with virtual golf. – MICHAEL SLACK PHOTOGRAPHY

Looking toward the future, the design is also focused on appealing to a cross-generational workforce, to help recruit and retain talent.

“We conducted visioning sessions with KSE’s executive team to learn exactly what they were looking for, in terms of enhancing their culture, operations, and work environment,” said Marlyn Zucosky, regional director for Ware Malcomb’s New Jersey office. “The KSE team was especially open to new ideas, which made the process collaborative and engaging. This new space supports a culture that is interactive and unifying.”

A new reception area welcomes visitors to the new space, which also includes a board room, huddle rooms, phone booths, a café with virtual golf and other gaming, a wellness/meditation room and a library/lounge.

By positioning select departments adjacent to each other, the design allows for the better cross-training of divisions, Ware Malcomb said.

Interior offices feature boarding huddle rooms and open areas of the office feature plan tables with storage – both to help encourage impromptu collaboration or planning review sessions.

KSE’s in-house graphics team created images from past projects to add to the revamped space, and the color palette features blues from KSE’s branding mixed with complementing shades.