As leaders in designing offices for the world’s best companies, Gensler’s move to a historic building in the heart of downtown San Francisco presented the opportunity to create a prototype of the future of work, one that prioritizes sustainability and thrives on flexibility.

Key in choosing the space was its capability to be retrofitted to run on all-electric; in doing so, the firm reduced its carbon emissions by more than 20% immediately and will reach 100% once the City of San Francisco transitions to fully green power in 2025. All-reusable utensils, plates, and cups, bulk snacks, and tap beverages make the firm’s zero-waste initiatives tangible, and reuse is a common thread, from 51% repurposed furniture to reclaimed pine from original pilings used in the construction of San Francisco Bay’s Treasure Island to custom salvaged metalwork.

Another deciding factor in choosing this space is its single-floor layout, which is conducive to the collaborative nature of design. An unassigned system of nearly 400 different types of workspaces and 38 conference and call rooms of varying sizes allow people to freely design their days, challenging the notion that a desk is the only place to get work done.

Activity and mood-based zones suit a variety of preferences:

The Exchange: The office’s “front door” that’s a lively, hospitality-forward hub for community, casual collaboration, and drop-in work.

The Solarium: A light-filled, green, and versatile space with individual work areas and ample soft seating and tables for informal meetings.

The Hall: The heart of the space with flexible team zones for individual production, dynamic team iteration, and intensive project collaboration.

The Vault: A low-lit, deep-focus, and conversation and meeting-free space designed to support neurodiversity and different thermal, acoustic, and lighting needs. 

The Lodge: A moody, speakeasy-like area for group conversation, casual ideation, immersive client workshopping, or individual tasks that don’t require a monitor.

All meeting spaces are outfitted with production quality AV that allows users to pick the ideal mode for any purpose, bolstering inclusivity and eliminating the pain points of hybrid meetings. Cinematic cameras and embedded microphones automatically adapt to each mode, creating optimal views for all participants regardless of location.

To limit anxiety, intuitive wayfinding helps people choose their optimal environment(s) throughout the day. Infused with a sense of humor, room names align with the uses of the zones in which they are located, such as “draft” and “FINAL FINAL,” playful takes on the many phases of design work that often take place in The Hall. Furniture and finishes were selected to give personality to spaces even when unoccupied.

A blueprint that can be adapted as time goes on and ways of working evolve, Gensler’s new office represents who the firm has always been while showcasing its ability to anticipate what’s next.