California Tech HQ is Configured with Dynamic Collaboration Spaces

With custom modular pods, movable origami walls, and biophilic design, the new GoGuardian office in El Segundo, California, is an experiment in creating adaptable collaboration spaces that foster innovation and growth.

The educational technology company partnered with Made to Matter, a strategic impact and design firm, to ensure that their values were represented by the space. According to Sémone Kessler, architect and founder of the design firm, the intention and thoughtfulness behind each choice is what makes the 35,000-square-foot space unique.

“We wanted this space to feel like the physical manifestation of the GoGuardian culture," says Kessler. “The company is extremely data-driven, and our design decisions mirrored that diligent yet playful mentality."

That inspirational vibe can be seen in the mantras and shadow art that weave subtle narratives throughout the space.

“We used reflective signage on ductwork and white letters on white walls, as well as reflected decals on windows so GoGuardian's mission and values project as shadows on the floor at the right time of day," says Kessler.

Her team also built custom pieces to foster creative workspaces within the larger office.

“The custom reception desk has a tree to symbolize growth and curiosity the second you walk through the door, and the bench planters in the center of the open office create an indoor forest so all employees get a view of nature," says Kessler.

A curiosity corner features custom sliding translucent white boards that provide space for brainstorming as well as shade from the sun.

Adaptability—such as a meditation space that can be reconfigured into a workspace—was a key narrative for the design of the edtech headquarters.

“We wanted the space to grow and adapt with the employees," says Kessler, noting that a biophilic and configurable office was a high priority in the design.

Her team brought in thousands of plants to act as sound barriers as well as privacy dividers. The plant-filled environment is also designed to inspire employees, as biophilic elements have been shown to boost mental health, productivity, and morale.

Made to Matter also created custom laser-cut sound panels and movable origami walls to separate the space acoustically and physically.

In addition, the design team produced banquettes that function as seating as well as sound panels.

“The booths allowed us to program usable collaboration space in otherwise ancillary circulation space," says Kessler. “This also helps foster collaboration, so people from different departments can work within closer proximity when necessary."

Variety by Design

For the new headquarters, it was particularly important to design a variety of spaces for the various types of work involved at GoGuardian.

“Trying to engage with HR on a company culture issue looks very different from trying to solve a branch of code with the engineering team," explains Kessler. “The configurations and tools are different."

As such, she says, the new space provides distinct areas for different types of creative expression and collaboration.

“This allows employees to feel supported in their problem-solving and allows them to change up their environment in order to inspire different mindsets," says Kessler.

Key features of the new headquarters include four types of custom modular pods that are designed to nurture open-to-closed teamwork. The pods fit two to three people inside, with whiteboard material on the outside to support other teams' brainstorming sessions.

“These different types of modular pods serve various work functions, from brainstorming to teaching," says Kessler. “Each pod behaves differently, allowing teams to adapt and configure according to their changing needs. This also lets teams feel ownership over their space and surfaces, which is important during COVID."

Throughout the pandemic, employees have had to adapt to remote collaboration, navigating their creative processes both online and off. But the office architecture inherently supports this work, says Kessler.

“Each conference room was thoughtfully designed with both remote and in-person collaboration in mind," she says.

Several of the conference rooms feature Global Kadin Tables, supplied by Office Furniture Heaven in various finishes. Many of the conference rooms have movable monitors, and every room has at least one monitor as well as high-quality audio. With these tools, distributed teams can continue to collaborate.

“The office serves a purpose for remote workers, and it's important to make them feel integrated even if they don't have a designated workstation," says Kessler. “That's why we created several smaller office pods—so remote employees and teams can collaborate freely."

Going forward, Kessler believes that adapting to many different types of remote and in-person collaboration will be pivotal for the build and design of new workspaces.

“This shift is more of an accelerated progression toward the future of work, and will become commonplace in how companies interact," she says. “This will not only shift our thinking about how physical offices are designed, but how teams and departments are built according to skill set as opposed to physical proximity, and will foster more diverse and integrated organizations. It's a very exciting time for the future of work."