Architectural Record
Projects
Tech Office HQ Los Angeles
A Tech HQ Designed with a Hospitality Twist
MAWD | March and White Design recently completed a notable technology company’s Los Angeles Headquarters. The office space was strategically designed to support overall employee experience by balancing collaborative spaces with spaces that maximize individual (and group) focus. MAWD’s design placed emphasis on diverse meeting spaces — ranging from small tech enabled video conferencing rooms to formal board rooms, casual spaces for collaboration, and everything in between.
One of the main design challenges for MAWD was to conceive an interior look and feel that was warm, welcoming, and hospitality driven. MAWD used warm wood, bronze, and brass metals which provides a contrast to the soft fabrics and paint colors used in the project. Moving away from the traditional notion of what a tech office ‘should’ look and feel like, MAWD’s work fused an interior program with exciting amenities, creating a hospitality buzz within the space.
This office space pushes the boundaries of what we expect from a workplace. The campus has been designed to push innovation, collaboration, and impromptu social interaction. We’ve listened to employees — and gleaned research on how they work best, what they need to succeed, and the infrastructure that will allow them to excel.
Designed for Collaboration (and Focus)
Designed for the post-pandemic tech worker, what sets this Tech HQ apart from the competition is the level of diversity built into meeting spaces. There are smaller tech enabled huddle rooms for groups of two or three individuals to hop on a quick video conferencing call. There are formal board rooms to support executive and emerging leadership. For casual meetings, MAWD designed flexible spaces with comfy sofas, which provides the perfect backdrop for ideation and team-building activities.
While collaboration and connectivity are key, MAWD also worked to ensure employees have ample access to privacy, prioritizing spaces for concentration and deep work. Framery phone and work booths have been custom wrapped to match the office’s design profile. Furthermore, specialty floors have been carved out for teams that require greater focus, such as dedicated engineering floors, which have been designed with increased privacy and minimal distractions. Collaborative spaces were thoughtfully designed with walls that can be added and removed to facilitate meetings that quickly expand from smaller to larger groups.
Connectivity for All
Beyond collaboration alone, MAWD worked to design a campus where connectivity among employees was prioritized. The design studio introduced a new connective staircase between the primary working floors, wrapping it in wood and glass to not only connect the space, but to add transparency and visibility within the office. Lighting fixtures that resemble “globes of light” float down the staircase, visible from several floors. With meeting rooms perched above the stairwell, individuals can ‘peer’ into this stairwell, which is illuminated by these light-filled vessels.
Design Profile + Environmental Impact
MAWD worked with the existing building to maximize the use of reclaimed materials. The studio tore up old carpet to uncover original concrete flooring, which was polished and left exposed. This, coupled with exposed ceilings provides a tech-friendly, industrial backdrop to the space. Working with local craftsmen, MAWD forged a collaborative relationship with the locally based Orion studio, who built the project’s decorative lighting fixtures. For millwork, MAWD worked with Artcrafters, a second locally based studio who outfitted the project in a beautiful walnut, appearing most notably in the primary connective stairwell.
Environmental considerations for the project included LEED fixtures and smart lighting, which employs sensors that maximize natural light, while minimizing the use of interior lighting on bright and sunny days. In terms of FF&E, MAWD worked with local furniture suppliers to outfit a diverse array of working and amenity floors. The level of sophistication and comfort was a priority for MAWD’s team, who aimed to create a comfortable and warm place to work. Oversized “comfy” couches were selected alongside a diverse array of chairs and seating options for employees to find their favorite working spot within the office’s lounge spaces.
Designing for Multiple User Pathways
Working directly with the client’s needs, MAWD designed two unique user pathways: one for internal employees, and a second dedicated to clients.
Creating these two spatial journeys allowed the design studio to maximize space, while fully customizing the experience. Employees are guided through the lobby towards working and amenity floors, while clients are guided through the lobby towards demonstration studios, where they can explore and be trained in the company’s software.
What’s Next for Office Amenities
With over three floors of amenity space, MAWD worked to include meaningful social and communal experiences for all. Set in Southern California, the design studio leaned into a strong indoor-outdoor connection, programming several outdoor terraces with amenities such as multiple lounge areas, outdoor team spaces, and BBQ stations. With views of the San Gabriel Mountains, the inclusion of outdoor space allows employees to take a break, and recenter themselves with an al fresco lunch before heading back inside.
Indoors, lounge spaces are plentiful, creating casual places for employees to meet, catch up on early morning emails, and have impromptu collaborative sessions. In addition to ample lounge space, MAWD designed a technology fueled brand-experience space, library area, pantry kitchen, and full bar.
With the tech company's founders being soccer fans, MAWD created an indoor soccer pitch for a pre-existing league. This unique office amenity made smart use of raw basement space, with mesh metal covers for the pitch's lighting fixtures, so employees can test their strength after the work day.
