After purchasing U.S. Robotics and experiencing the outflow of staff that typically follows such an acquisition, 3Com Corp. decided that architecture could play a key role in reversing the employee exodus. They therefore made a commitment to a major Midwest campus. Phase I is a 500,000-square-foot building with an interior organization based on the concept of downtown and suburban neighborhoods. Three-story precast panels define a downtown "street" lined with public facilities including a conference "tower," fitness center, and café. Secondary "streets" divide workstations into neighborhoods, with common areas at major intersections. The jury was impressed with how the vast workplace was given human scale and memorable public spaces.