San Francisco Tech Firm's HQ Showcases Transparency
When it came time for CFO Jeff Bogan to conceptualize the headquarters for Upgrade, the San Francisco-based tech firm he founded, local multidisciplinary firm Blitz felt like the right fit for the burgeoning financial company's office design.
Blitz's co-founder Melissa Hanley led the design team, and worked closely with Bogan to create work spaces that visually convey the company's manifesto. According to Blitz—which offers sustainable architecture services as well as graphics and branding— the design approach for Upgrade “builds upon the company’s mission to deliver straightforward and streamlined financial innovation to its clients through the use of clean, clear, and sophisticated materiality.”
A living green wall welcomes employees and visitors to the 32,000-square-foot offices in San Francisco’s Financial District. The reception area introduces two floors of open spaces subtly delineated by material changes, as well as perforated screens and transparent walls. Although sightlines continue seamlessly throughout the offices—and to sweeping city views beyond—the floor plan mixes circulation, work, and gathering spaces to encourage spontaneous or planned collaboration as people meander through the layout.
“Users navigate the two floors through circuitous paths that clearly orient the individual within the space while providing opportunities to explore and connect,” states the design team.
Upgrade’s boardroom and the CEO’s office sit side-by-side near the reception area and feature transparent glass walls to showcase the company’s goal of client clarity. Black steel framed, 4-foot-wide, quarter-sawn walnut doors paired with dropped ceilings provide acoustic privacy, however. French walnut wood floors continue throughout most of the office spaces. This natural and elegant finish provides a warm counterpoint to myriad smooth, white surfaces and high ceilings.
Just behind the reception desk, a spiral stair—illuminated by color-changing LED lights—leads from first-floor public spaces to purposefully separate employee work and play areas on the second floor.
“The spiral staircase intentionally contrasts with the minimalist aspects of the executive office [through] a dynamic display of color and texture,” states the design description. “Open seating for casual meetings or impromptu gatherings are landing points on either end of the stair, allowing staff to naturally congregate at the junction between the floors.”
Upstairs, private offices intermingle with high-tech conference rooms, a game room, well-stocked snack areas, an open eating/working lunch area, and more casual seating areas. All work spaces offer different configurations for people to engage in focused individual tasks or more creative brainstorming sessions. Custom furniture and numerous built-ins generate a high level of functionality along with comfort. These more elegant finishes are layered among the open space’s industrial touches of exposed ductwork, oversized light fixtures, and floor-to-ceiling windows.
According to the Blitz team, “the layered approach creates a natural flow through the space that subtly creates distinct zones for each department without the creation of visual barriers or hierarchical structure.”
