In the beginning, it seemed like 87,000 square feet of commercial real estate at 185 Berry Street in San Francisco would be plenty of space to accommodate cloud storage and file sharing giant Dropbox and its 200+ employees. But then the company kept growing. And growing. Today, with more than 500 employees, Dropbox now occupies 200,000 square feet on Berry Street, plus additional space at 333 Brannan, a 10-minute walk from the main office.

Here are some of the reasons Dropbox makes the list of spaces we love, and how you can get the look in San Diego.

The interior conveys an atmosphere of fun and playfulness. With quotes reminiscent of comic book dialogue stenciled on the wall and bright chairs providing pops of color, there is a childlike whimsy to the space.

Even the industrial characteristics of the space (exposed ceilings and ducting), evoke a feeling that spills and mistakes are welcome here, as the space seems damage-proof.

Dropbox also does a great job of bringing nature indoors, keeping the window line clear to allow abundant natural light to reach inner offices. Verdant plants in every room inject a bold splash of color and livelihood to the modern, industrial space. In addition to the colors and textures plants bring to the office landscape, they also increase employee productivity.

Known as a progressive concept space plan, this design, which houses offices in the interior while keeping window lines around the perimeter free and clear, is highly coveted in the commercial office space market today.

Dropbox has done an amazing job of incorporating enclosed offices in an otherwise open space with exceptionally high ceilings. The modern look featuring glass walls is very popular right now with tech and creative companies, and it only makes sense that each office be equipped with its own computer welcoming you to the room.

The use of whiteboards is not new, but one of the trends we’re seeing more and more is the use of white board paint to allow entire walls to be used for creative brainstorming.

I want to eat lunch at Tuck Shop, Dropbox’s dining hall. It reminds me of a trendy New York café, with a lofty vibe created by dark wood finishes, chalkboards, unique lighting systems, and a modern, edgy ceiling grid.

The common areas, which blend seamlessly into the dining hall, almost have the earmarks of a college campus food court setting. With comfy looking couches and funky casual prints adjacent to the eating area, it’s as easy to envision students catching up between classes as it is to see Dropbox team members collaborating and brainstorming. The laid-back scene fosters an environment of camaraderie and creativity that has helped fuel Dropbox’s success.

How To Get The Look In San Diego

Good news! This look is easy to attain in San Diego, particularly in Class A high rises. The progressive concept of blending open space with enclosed offices is incredibly popular right now in “Ready Now” spec suites.

In fact, landlords are putting in the work themselves to build out suites with interior offices and open workspaces along the windows. The Irvine Company in particular is embracing this concept, as they build out spec suite after spec suite incorporating these more creative space plans.

For more information on finding the perfect space for your company, contact me directly at (619) 238-2111, or star@hughesmarino.com.