Ripple San Francisco
When Ripple decided to move their headquarters into a single building on Battery Street in San Francisco, they envisioned a space that would not only foster collaboration but also redefine their workplace culture to make the office a destination. Spanning an impressive 115,000 square feet, the project, completed between October 2022 and December 2023, was Ripple's "beta test" in creating an environment that would enhance teamwork and productivity.
The furniture design process was a collaborative endeavor led primarily by Ripple, with our team closely involved in translating their vision into reality. Each week, our dedicated Account and Design teams met with Ripple to meticulously plan out each area of the new building. These sessions produced detailed "shopping lists" on everything from conference tables, dining tables and chairs, occasional tables, modular seating, textile finishes, and more. The selected pieces were then brought to life through full-color renderings for final approval.
Each piece of furniture and textile was carefully chosen to align with the different functional areas, or "Neighborhoods", within the office. These Neighborhoods—ranging from workstations to lounge seating areas to meeting areas—were all designed around the Teknion Cityline spine, a modular system that provided both the flexibility and aesthetic consistency crucial for a dynamic workspace. This model created standardized furniture configurations that Ripple’s workplace team would replicate across the office to meet the workplace goals of each department.
The project wasn’t without its challenges. Initially designed with ample ancillary spaces, our team had to pivot based on feedback from the end users, converting these areas into additional workstations to accommodate extra seats. This densification underscored the value of our reconfigurable “Neighborhood” design, allowing us to maintain a unified look throughout the office without sacrificing the original branding elements.
The final space was punctuated with a thoughtful selection of decorative items, from over 100 books to dozens of vases, bookends, rugs, trays, and pillows, each placed to complement the office’s thematic vision. The result is not just a workplace but a statement of culture and collaboration, a testament to what can be achieved when design and functionality meet.
This project stands as a benchmark for future corporate interiors, demonstrating how thoughtful design can transform a space into a vibrant, effective workplace that attracts employees to the office to do their best work.
