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Spaces We Love: Facebook’s New City…I Mean Office

Images via Architizer.

By Star Hughes-Gorup

Facebook revolutionized the way people communicate, and now they’re revolutionizing the way that growth-oriented companies go about their office space too.

This office is no small brick-and-mortar, $50/square foot tenant improvement project though. It’s part city, part museum, and part tech hub. Designed by Frank Gehry, it’s one of the coolest offices ever built.

facebook-headquarters-by-frank-gehry

Facebook’s sprawling new space might not be feasible to recreate for most office tenants, but there are key elements you can borrow to make even your everyday, high-rise, “building standard” build-out very special.

facebook-headquarters-lobby-reception-area

Facebook’s lobby and reception area is a showpiece, and it’s clear they did not skimp on the finishes here! The two stories of windows are key, bringing in a great amount of natural light. The high, open ceilings create an even grander entrance for guests, and the mixed materials, including natural wood, polished concrete floors, and metal storefront windows add a unique dimension to the space.

facebook-headquarters-art-color-wall

Art and color fill the space and add a sense of creative glamour. This is not a funky warehouse – this is a high-end, creative center for innovation – and no detail was spared in the design. Even if your firm doesn’t have the budget for a Jackson Pollock inspired rainbow mural, adding elements of color through art is an easy way to upgrade your space and add some personality. Visit local art fairs to find pieces that would fit in your office. I typically recommend something on the modern, abstract end of the art spectrum, as staid landscapes and still lifes can quickly feel dated in an office.

facebook-headquarters-wall-with-chalkboard-paint

Chalkboard paint. Enough said. Chalkboard paint and whiteboard paint are some of the easiest ways to turn a plain vanilla office into a brainstorming mecca. Better yet, if you have an artist on your team, ask them to design something fun for the walls – to turn them from functional to beautiful.

Great job to Facebook and Mr. Gehry. As for the rest of us who probably can’t afford a superstar architect, remember that, as you design your own space, small details can really make a difference. By focusing on natural light, art and color – and maybe adding a dash of chalkboard paint – your company can have its own creative space for your team to love at a fraction of the size (and cost) of Facebook’s.

Star Hughes-Gorup is a senior vice president and director at Hughes Marino, a global corporate real estate advisory firm that exclusively represents tenants and buyers. Star is a key member of Hughes Marino’s brokerage team, where she specializes in tenant representation and building purchases. Star also makes frequent media appearances to speak on business issues from a millennial perspective, and blogs about life as a woman in a male-dominated industry at starhughesgorup.com. Contact Star at 1-844-662-6635, or star@hughesmarino.com.



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