The SleepIQ Labs expresses the high-tech nature of company’s signature mattresses, enabling software engineers to test technology and fulfill their commitment to customers’ wellness and wellbeing. With their new space, Sleep Number sought to reinterpret its corporate brand reflected in its headquarters with a “Silicon Valley” vibe in the heart of technology industry.

The space combines design insight with engineering ingenuity, as the design team collaborated with Sleep Number’s branding team to envision a vibrant space that is all about a good night’s sleep.

The team began with visioning sessions, creating a series of Pinterest boards to share ideas between the Sleep Number team in Minneapolis and the design team in San Jose. In this highly competitive job market, they sought ideas that reflected the excitement of technology and appealed to rising engineers to support recruitment and retention.

The new space is tied to Sleep Number’s brand with restful blue and green hues mixed with the richness and energizing orange tones of wood. The design elements combine comfort and technology, with a nod to the SleepIQ innovations and biometrics. Small details nod to the software at the business core, such as wooden scrims that mimic the algorithm bars on their app or etch-glass panels recalling digital programming.

The flexible open floor plan anticipates the client’s programming needs and accommodates different workstyles. A reception area with sleep gallery off the elevator lobby highlights the signature product. Further inside, various-sized conference rooms, open workstations, private offices, quiet phone rooms, collaboration area, and kitchen/café area give team members choices in how and where they work. Finally, testing labs efficiently stack mattresses on mechanical elevator bunks to economize costly square footage and maximize vertical air space as engineers test sleep software.

Photography: Gregory Cortez