Lyft took space within two parallel, ¼-mile long buildings in China Basin for their new headquarters and the design team embarked on a multi-phased effort to knit together a string of disparate spaces to create a unified experience and celebrate the growing company’s culture of fun and discovery. At this critical point in Lyft’s expansion, we took inspiration from the company’s core values to reinforce their brand, integrating custom graphics, a curated furniture package, light, and color to enrich the environment with the ideas of movement, innovation, and authenticity.

COLOR AS WAYFINDING
In a building the length of four football fields, clear and graphic wayfinding was crucial. Gradations of pinks, purple, blues, and greens on columns and walls help identify locations within the buildings, and also mark break areas, elevator lobbies, and other circulation elements.

CELEBRATING THE URBAN EXPERIENCE
We developed the space plans to create urban neighborhoods highlighted by a series of internal gardens modeled on San Francisco’s popular mini parks or “parklets”. Just as the city’s parklets provide respite from the busy urban streets, Lyft’s parklets offer welcoming spaces away from desks to meet, socialize, or relax. Comfy collaboration spaces interspersed throughout work areas easily convert into desking and back again as teams expand and contract over time.

A SENSE OF DISCOVERY
We transformed a dark, uninviting building core into secret rooms that create a sense of surprise and delight, such as a speak easy accessed through a portrait of Willy Wonka, a hidden library, and a game room, among others.

FOOD BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER
The main dining area is supported by a series of pantries strategically placed to provide easy access for everyone, while the all-hands and event space is located on the top floor to take advantage of views to the ballpark and Third Street Bridge.

Photography: Bruce Damonte