CLIENTLyft
SERVICESInteriors
LOCATIONSan Francisco, CA
SIZE361,000 sq ft
STATUSCompleted 2017-2020
Lyft took space within two parallel, ¼-mile long buildings and the STUDIOS team embarked on a multi-phased effort to knit together a string of disparate spaces to create a unified experience and celebrate the company’s culture of fun and discovery. We took inspiration from Lyft’s core values—Be Yourself, Uplift Others, and Make It Happen—to reinforce their brand with custom graphics, a curated furniture package, light, and color.
We developed the space plans to create urban neighborhoods highlighted by a series of internal gardens modeled on San Francisco’s popular mini parks or “parklets”. Just as the city’s parklets provide respite from the busy urban streets, Lyft’s parklets offer welcoming spaces away from desks to meet, to socialize, or to relax.
In a building the length of nearly four football fields, clear and graphic wayfinding was crucial. We used gradations of pinks, purple, blues, and greens on columns and walls to help identify locations within the buildings, and to mark break areas, elevator lobbies, and other circulation elements.
We then transformed the dark, uninviting building core into a series of secret rooms that create a sense of surprise and delight, such as a speakeasy that can be accessed through a portrait of Willy Wonka, a hidden library, and a game room, among others.
“We couldn’t be happier with the design and with our relationship with the STUDIOS team. They really get us, and it shows in all of our work together.”
Nancy Losey, Former Head of Real Estate and Office Operations
Awards and Press
- STUDIOS Architecture Brings Willy Wonka Style to Lyft’s New Headquarters — Architectural Digest 2019
- Modern Workspaces: Lyft’s office design aims to ‘delight’— San Francisco Business Journal 2019 —
- Show Us Your Dreams Award — 2018
PHOTOGRAPHYBruce Damonte
Awards
- City of Palo Alto, Architectural Review Board (ARB) Design Award | The Hub at Stanford Research Park
- ULI Washington Awards for Excellence, Finalist | MLK Gateway II
- Future of Work Awards, Jury’s Special Prize | Ledger HQ
- BIM d’Or, Tech Show Awards | Google AI Hub
- Interior Design Magazine, Best of Year Awards, Office Renovation, Winner | Meta EMEA Headquarters
- Interior Design Magazine, Best of Year Awards, Medium Tech Office: Finalists | WHOOP Headquarters
- ULI Europe Awards for Excellence : Winner | L’Atelier Covivio
- Interior Design Magazine, Best of Year Awards, Finalist: Large Early Education | Raymond Elementary School
- AIA DC, Awards of Excellence in Architecture, Chapter Design Award: Winner | Raymond Elementary School
- ULI Washington Awards of Excellence, Excellence in Institutional Development: Winner | Raymond Elementary School
- ULI Washington Awards of Excellence: Finalists | Raymond Elementary School
- USGBC, US Local Market Leadership Swards DC, MD, VA, Decarbonization Award: Winner | Raymond Elementary School
- Fast Company, Innovation by Design Awards, Best Workplace Design: Honorable Mention | WHOOP Headquarters
- Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award, Display Installations: Winner | Welcome Galleries at the National Building Museum
- Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award, Best in office Buildings: Winner | Meta EMEA Headquarters
- Interior Design Magazine, NYCxDesign Awards: Finalist | 825 Third Avenue
- CoreNet NYC Design Excellence Awards, Project of the Year Under 25K sq ft: Winner | 825 Third Avenue
- USGBC, US Local Market Leadership Awards DC, MD, VA, Judge’s Choice Award: Winner | MLK Gateway II
- NAIOP DC MD Awards of Excellence, Best Washington DC Urban Office: Winner | MLK Gateway II
- CoreNet New England Awards of Excellence, Large Workplace: Winner | WHOOP Headquarters