Holistic Design for Modern Logistics The client—a growing logistics company experiencing rapid expansion—had outgrown their previous office in Gurgaon. The brief for their new Delhi headquarters reflected both ambition and pragmatism: create a sophisticated workspace that would attract talent while accommodating future growth. Their previous office had been functional but fragmented, with departments isolated in separate rooms that hindered collaboration. Leadership wanted the new space to foster communication across teams while maintaining focused work zones. The aesthetic brief emphasized contemporary professionalism without corporate sterility.
Crosby's mandate was comprehensive: space planning, material selection, furniture design and fabrication, lighting design, and complete execution. This wasn't finishing work on someone else's shell; we controlled the entire interior transformation from structural hand-off to operational office. The timeline was aggressive: four months from contract signing to staff move-in. The company couldn't afford extended downtime between locations, requiring precise coordination of fabrication, delivery, and installation sequences.
The Challenge: Making 15,000 Square Feet Feel Intentional The space occupied a full floor in Okhla's industrial belt—a rectangular footprint approximately 150 feet long by 100 feet wide. Floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides provided natural light, but the deep floor plate created a dark core requiring careful planning. The existing condition presented typical developer-grade construction: exposed concrete structure, basic electrical rough-ins, no finishes.
Everything visible would be ours to design and execute. Space programming required balancing multiple functions: 80 workstations for operational staff, 12 private cabins for senior management, two conference rooms (one for 12, one for 20), a reception area, kitchen and dining, informal collaboration zones, server room, and storage. The client's culture emphasized transparency and accessibility—they wanted leadership visible and approachable rather than sequestered in corner offices. This philosophical stance would drive spatial organization.
Spatial Strategy: Perimeter Light, Central Collaboration We organized the plan around a simple principle: position focused work at the perimeter where natural light exists, and create collaborative spaces in the core where artificial lighting and acoustic treatment could be controlled. The 80 workstations occupy the perimeter zones, arranged in clusters of 8-12 along the windowed walls. This configuration gives every employee access to daylight and views while creating natural team groupings. The modular desk system—custom-designed and fabricated in our workshop—employs height-adjustable frames and acoustic screens that allow individuals to personalize their workspace while maintaining visual openness.
Senior management cabins line one long wall, but with a critical detail: floor-to-ceiling glass on the office-facing side. Leaders can close doors for phone calls or focused work while remaining visible to the floor. The glass partitions employ frameless systems with minimal aluminum profiles, maintaining the open aesthetic while providing acoustic separation. The core houses collaborative functions: two conference rooms with full-height glass walls and acoustic treatment, informal meeting zones with lounge furniture, a pantry and dining area, and a "library" zone with quiet work booths for tasks requiring deep concentration.
Circulation follows the perimeter, creating a walking loop that connects all zones while maintaining clear sightlines across the floor. This wasn't accidental—the client wanted employees to move through the space naturally, encountering colleagues and spontaneous conversations.
Material Palette: Subdued Contemporary The previous office had employed bold accent colors—orange and teal—that dated quickly and created visual chaos. For the new space, we developed a more restrained palette that would age gracefully. The foundation is grey-beige: warm grey for large surfaces like walls and partitions, shifting to beige in soft furnishings and acoustic elements. This neutral base creates calm essential for focused work while providing a sophisticated canvas for accent elements. Reception: First Impressions The reception area occupies the elevator lobby, serving as first impression for clients and visitors. We designed a space that balances corporate professionalism with warmth and approachability. The reception desk—custom-fabricated in our workshop—employs oak veneer cabinet with white quartz counter, matching the material palette established throughout the office. Behind the desk, a feature wall combines exposed concrete with backlit company logo in brushed brass. Visitor seating includes two lounge chairs and a coffee table, positioned to offer views into the main office through glass partitions. This transparency was intentional: the client wanted visitors to see the vibrant workplace, not a sealed-off reception box. Custom Workstation System: Modular Intelligence The workstation design represents significant development work. We studied how the company actually works—their collaboration patterns, technology needs, storage requirements—before designing the furniture system. Each workstation measures 1800mm x 750mm, providing adequate work surface without excess. Height-adjustable frames from a German manufacturer allow sit-stand functionality, increasingly requested by employees concerned with health. The workstation components are fully modular—screens, storage, accessories can be added or relocated without replacing the entire system. This flexibility protects the client's investment as their needs evolve.
"Crosby delivered beyond our expectations. The new office has transformed our company culture—the open design encourages collaboration that was impossible in our previous fragmented space. Employee satisfaction scores increased 40% after the move, with workspace design cited as a primary factor. The custom furniture and quality materials demonstrate that we value our people, helping us attract top talent in Delhi's competitive logistics market. Two years on, the design still feels current and sophisticated."— Vikram Malhotra, CEO, Logistics Company
Specification: Engineered oak veneer, height-adjustable frames, modular components
The 80 workstations employ custom-designed modular system fabricated entirely in our Delhi workshop. Each desk surface uses 25mm oak veneer on MDF substrate, edge-banded in solid oak for material authenticity. The veneer selection process took weeks—examining grain patterns to ensure visual consistency across 80 desks while allowing natural variation. Height-adjustable frames from German manufacturer Linak provide sit-stand functionality with quiet electric motors.
Specification: 50mm fiberglass core, wrapped in Camira fabric, edge profiles in aluminum
All conference rooms and private cabins employ acoustic treatment to control reverberation essential for speech intelligibility. The wall panels use 50mm thick fiberglass core achieving NRC 0.85 (absorbs 85% of sound energy), wrapped in Camira fabric from UK manufacturers specializing in commercial textiles. We selected grey colorway matching the overall palette while providing subtle texture.
Specification: 12mm low-iron glass, ceramic frit pattern, frameless aluminum system
Private cabins and conference rooms employ frameless glass partitions maintaining visual openness while providing acoustic separation. The glass is low-iron formulation (minimal green tint) from Saint-Gobain, providing crystal clarity unlike standard glass. Each partition includes access door with European hardware providing smooth operation and magnetic catch.
Specification: 3-layer engineered oak, natural grade, UV-cured finish, 15mm thickness
The continuous oak flooring unifies the 15,000 square foot space while providing acoustic benefit over hard surfaces. Factory-applied UV-cured finish provides durability for commercial traffic while maintaining natural appearance. Installation employed floating method over acoustic underlayment, reducing sound transmission to floors below. The warm medium tone balances the grey walls while complementing the custom oak furniture.
Specification: Quartz composite, honed finish, 20mm thickness
All pantry countertops and the reception desk employ engineered quartz from Pokarna—India's leading manufacturer of quartz surfaces. The material combines 93% natural quartz with polymer resins, creating non-porous surface that resists staining, scratching, and bacterial growth—essential for food preparation areas.
Specification: As-cast concrete, minimal patching, clear sealer
The existing concrete structure includes columns at 7-meter spacing throughout the floor plate. Rather than conceal these structural elements, we exposed them as architectural features adding industrial character. The concrete surface shows formwork texture—wood grain imprinted during casting—that we preserved as authentic material honesty.
Conference Rooms: Acoustic Precision Both rooms employ acoustic treatment on all non-glass surfaces: fabric-wrapped panels on walls, acoustic ceiling tiles, and carpet tile flooring. The combination reduces reverberation time to optimal range (0.4-0.6 seconds) for speech intelligibility, crucial for video conferences and presentations. Each room includes a ceiling-mounted projector, motorized screen, wireless presentation system, and integrated video conferencing equipment. We coordinated with AV consultants to ensure clean equipment integration without visible cable runs or awkward equipment placement. Conference tables—custom-fabricated in our workshop—employ 40mm thick oak tops on powder-coated steel bases. The tables accommodate technology integration (pop-up power/data modules) while maintaining clean design. Breakout Zones: Structured Informality The client specifically requested informal collaboration areas—spaces where employees could gather spontaneously without booking conference rooms. These zones occupy the core area, visually connected to workstations but acoustically separate. We designed custom lounge furniture: low-back sofas in grey upholstery, occasional chairs in mustard yellow (the palette's only bold accent), and coffee tables in oak with brass-finish metal bases. The furniture suggests residential comfort while maintaining commercial durability. The zones include writable walls (painted with whiteboard coating) that encourage collaborative sketching and brainstorming. Lighting Design: Layered Strategy The lighting design required balancing multiple considerations: adequate task lighting for workstations, energy efficiency for operational cost, visual comfort to reduce eyestrain, and aesthetic quality to reinforce the design intent. We employed a layered approach: Ambient Lighting: Recessed LED panels in the ceiling provide base illumination at 300 lux across open work areas. The fixtures use 4000K color temperature—neutral white that balances the warmth of oak finishes with the coolness of grey surfaces. Task Lighting: Each workstation includes an adjustable LED desk lamp, allowing individuals to supplement ambient lighting based on their task and preference. This personalization reduces the need for higher ambient levels, saving energy. Accent Lighting: Track-mounted LED spots highlight feature walls, artwork, and architectural elements like the exposed concrete columns. These accents create visual interest and depth, preventing the space from feeling uniformly lit.
All lighting connects to a DALI control system, allowing zone-based dimming and scheduling. The system automatically adjusts light levels based on available daylight, reducing energy use while maintaining target illumination. Pantry & Dining: Social Hub The pantry employs stainless steel commercial equipment—refrigerators, microwave ovens, coffee machines—integrated into oak veneer cabinetry that maintains the material vocabulary. Countertops are white quartz, selected for stain resistance and ease of cleaning. We designed a feature wall using vertical oak slats with integrated LED backlighting, creating visual interest while providing acoustic absorption (the slats conceal mineral fiber panels). This wall became an Instagram-worthy backdrop that employees use for company social media.PROJECT CREDITS Client: Confidential Logistics Company Design & Execution: Crosby Project Private Limited Scope: Complete Interior Design, Space Planning, Custom Furniture Fabrication, Turnkey Execution Timeline: 4 months (July 2023 - October 2023) Area: 15,000 sq ft
We work with a select number of clients annually to ensure each project receives our complete attention. Initial consultations are conducted at our atelier, where we discuss your vision, explore material samples, and determine if our approach aligns with your aspirations.
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