BMW Group DesignworksUSA Newbury Park, California, USA Designworks, previously a constant winner in the BMW design competitions, has designed many interiors for the new BMW models. In 1995, the design firm was acquired by BMW and became the American design center for BMW, as DesignworksUSA. A new car studio was built adjacent to the original studio building. A common entrance brought the two buildings together. A frequent back and forth between the old and the new studios, would bring in knowledge of other product design to the automobile design. The tilt-up panel construction, used in the old studio as well as most of the surrounding office buildings, became the concept for the new exterior and interior design. The dynamic concrete panels enveloped the two buildings, and the connecting portion was converted to a lobby, gallery and other public spaces. To preserve secrecy of the design in development, no large opening could be made. Nonetheless the design process and the checking of clay models both require natural light. This necessitated the creation of many openings in forms of top lights and high windows, at various angles. Walls were made using glass curtain walls and translucent acrylic panels, so light could permeate throughout. Although the building has a look of a fortress from the outside, once inside, the studio is an airy and bright space. The development of an automobile constantly changes through different phases, and it can only be achieved in an open floor plan. This also enables a smooth exchange of ideas between designers. The relationship between designers and modelers are carefully cultivated, as seen in the gallery created on the second floor to overlook the clay model studio downstairs. The visual and physical connection between the designers, as well as the designer and the modeler, makes the bond stronger towards a goal of a new automobile.           Location: Newbury Park, California, USA     Move-In Date: 2001     Floor Area: 85,000 ft2 total, Studio is 35,000 ft2     Workforce: approx. 1,000     Building Design: Gensler     Interior Design: Gensler     Interview Date: 2003.6