Commercial Office Build-Out in St. Louis | 40,000 Square Foot Headquarters for DE Design Works

When Aptitude Design & Build partnered with DE Design Works on this large-scale commercial office project, the goal was not simply to create a functional workspace — it was to design an environment that reflected the company’s identity, culture, and future growth.

The project involved transforming a completely unfinished 40,000 square foot shell space into a fully operational headquarters tailored to the needs of a growing engineering and design company.

From the beginning, Aptitude Design & Build approached the project as both a construction challenge and a branding opportunity.

Transforming an Empty Shell into a Functional Workplace

At the start of the project, the building was entirely unfinished.

The space included:

• No plumbing
• No electrical systems
• No interior walls
• No finished offices or meeting spaces
• Bare concrete structure throughout

Aptitude Design & Build was responsible for designing and constructing the entire interior environment, including:

• Electrical systems
• Plumbing systems
• Interior wall layouts
• Flooring installation
• Drywall and paint
• Lighting design
• Conference rooms
• Break rooms
• Office spaces
• Lab areas
• Cubicle zones
• Common gathering spaces

The scale of the project required extensive coordination, planning, and collaboration to ensure every area supported both the company’s operational needs and long-term vision.

Designing a Workspace Around How the Company Operates

Because DE Design Works is an engineering company, the layout needed to support several very different functions within one cohesive environment.

The planning process focused on understanding how employees and clients would use the building on a daily basis and how different departments needed to interact.

The final office design includes:

• Engineering lab spaces
• Large collaborative work areas
• Private offices
• Conference rooms
• Break rooms
• Flexible meeting spaces
• Reception and client-facing areas

Aptitude Design & Build carefully divided the large footprint into functional “zones” that each support different types of work while still maintaining flow and cohesion throughout the building.

Custom Design Features That Reflect the Brand

Once the overall layout was established, the project shifted toward creating a space with a stronger sense of personality and identity.

Several standout design features help define the final aesthetic, including:

• Wood accent walls
• Statement lighting
• Black exposed ceilings
• Rustic-modern material combinations
• Branded entry features
• Industrial-inspired finishes

One of the defining spaces within the office is the conference room, where Aptitude Design & Build incorporated a wood accent wall, custom lighting selections, and black ceilings to create a modern industrial atmosphere that feels warm and distinctive rather than corporate and generic.

A Branded Entry Experience

The office entry was designed to immediately establish DE Design Works’ identity and create a strong first impression for clients and visitors.

A custom accent wall featuring circuit board-inspired graphics reinforces the company’s engineering focus while creating a modern, high-tech visual centerpiece within the reception area.

Integrated plexiglass display frames showcase the evolution of the company and highlight projects completed since the company’s founding in 2002, helping tell the story of the business directly within the space itself.

Planning for Long-Term Growth

Scalability was one of the most important considerations throughout the project.

During the earliest planning meetings, Aptitude Design & Build discussed the company’s projected growth over the next five to ten years to ensure the space would continue to support future expansion.

One of the most creative solutions was the addition of a mezzanine level within the building. Because the ceilings were exceptionally high, Aptitude proposed utilizing vertical space by adding a mezzanine and staircase system above part of the office area.

This approach created additional usable square footage without requiring the company to purchase more real estate in the future.

A Fully Customized Commercial Environment

After approximately one month of intensive design planning and five months of construction, Aptitude Design & Build successfully transformed the empty shell into a fully customized commercial headquarters.

The finished space balances functionality, scalability, and strong visual identity while supporting collaboration, engineering work, client interaction, and future growth.

This project demonstrates Aptitude Design & Build’s ability to manage complex commercial build-outs while creating environments that feel both highly functional and uniquely tailored to the businesses they support.