Studios Architecture Brings Willy Wonka Style to Lyft’s New Headquarters
Anyone who's ever moved knows it usually doesn't happen at a convenient time. Lyft, fresh off the face of a new IPO, likely has a few other things on its mind. But for some, big news offers a chance to start anew, and the company is doing exactly that in a brand-new HQ by San Francisco–based firm Studios Architecture on Berry Street.
"We were really inspired by Lyft being a transportation company," says Enrique Sanchez, Studios Architecture's lead designer on the project. "We wanted it to feel like being transported to another world when you step off the elevator. We wanted to give it a mythical presence—some were inspired by Willy Wonka. With each green space or secret room, we were sprinkling these moments of energy throughout the building."
Lyft’s new HQ looks more like a playground than an office, with whimsical vignettes made up of cloud-shaped curved seats, sectional benches resembling a grassy hill, and wood platforms steeped in natural light with panoramas of the city skyline. Bright colors permeate the space and include an abundance of the brand’s signature hot-pink hue. (There’s even neon art in the form of a peeled banana.) Miniature parks with herbs and plants, inspired by the High Line in Manhattan, pepper each floor.
When the space was being designed, one of the foremost requests from the company was that it run on 100% clean energy, a pledge that Lyft extended to its hubs, all offices, and every electric mile driven. According to Nancy Losey, head of Lyft's corporate real estate and office operations, the office has plenty of interesting amenities and features, from rooms for working moms, prayer spaces, and a history zone documenting the company’s works and efforts. There are also a number of “surprise-and-delight moments” throughout the space, she explains.
While Lyft's employees don't have private offices, instead working side by side at communal desks, they can also retreat into park-like green spaces throughout the floors. "We created these spaces with greenery to give people a place step away and have a conversation with a colleague or collaborate and have a meeting away from their desk," says Sanchez.
The founders wanted to incorporate references to one of their favorite movies, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, into the office space, and if you look hard enough you’ll find a secret room behind a Willy Wonka picture and a library tucked between conference rooms. The company’s offices across the country have similar secret spaces, each with a unique theme. Its San Francisco HQ's version is a speakeasy-style study room, whereas in Nashville, for instance, it’s a music room with soundproof walls.
“From living walls and floor-to-ceiling murals, to hidden rooms and herb gardens, the office is so much more than just a place to work,” says Losey. “It’s a testament to all of the employees that make Lyft the company that it is.”
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
