The relocation of College Futures Foundation’s headquarters from San Francisco to downtown Oakland provided the organization with a unique opportunity to design its new offices to both reflect the organization’s innovative approach to philanthropy and embody their decades of service to the students of California. The new headquarters for this important non-profit embodies the organization’s core values around access, equity, integration, and sustainability. The all-new interior build-out - including systems, finishes, lighting, and furniture - included private and open offices, meeting rooms, a large conference room, kitchen, lounge, and support spaces.

The broad, open work area was carefully configured to maximize access to daylight and sweeping views of Lake Merritt and the East Bay hills. Warm, inviting materials that evoke nearby landscapes give the space its character. Perimeter meeting and office spaces, supporting a range of private and collaborative work, embody themes drawn from California’s natural environment. The spaces are anchored by a 1,200 square-foot communal gathering hub, bracketed by an open kitchen and the wide curve of exterior windows, that supports the Foundation’s culture of engagement and equity.

Timely project delivery within the non-profits financial means - while developing innovative design solutions that addressed long-term impacts on operational costs and functional efficiency - was a primary consideration throughout the design and construction process. As part of the design firm’s commitment to serving area non-profits, the Principal-in-Charge’s time was pro bono.

Photography: Mikiko Kikuyama, http://mikikokikuyama.com/