Inside Facebook's Super Cool Designer Offices
Categories: Decorating, Luxury Living, Famous Homes, Design, etc
Have you ever imagined what it was like to work at Facebook? Imagine no more... Photo: Studio O+A
Previously, employees of the company were scattered in and around downtown Palo Alto in more than 10 locations. The new facility, previously a lab for Agilent Technologies, is 150,000 square feet of space that's been transformed by Studio O+A into an interactive, open and playful space fit for the top social networking company.
Let's live vicariously through those lucky Facebook employees and check out their new space.
Facebooks Designer Look
As you walk in the door, you're greeted by tall ceilings and what seems to be a fun, modern space calling to you from behind large glass doors. Studio O+A relied heavily on the opinions of Facebook employees when creating their design. The Facebook platform was used to conduct company-wide polls about design decisions, post construction photos and updates, and to keep everyone informed of the thought process behind the project.
Studio O+A
Just about every department of the 700-employee company was involved in one way or another in the design process. Because the new facility houses employees coming from various locations, the company wanted to maintain each section's distinct identity. The architects used color and interior spacing to create neighborhoods within the open plan space.
Studio O+A
Employees can enjoy an open atmosphere and lounge areas, where offline social interaction is encouraged.
Studio O+A
The company's executives sit in central areas, accessible to all employees.
Studio O+A
Reflecting the employees' desire for a green headquarters, the facility is the first commercial project completed under Palo Alto's 2008 Green Building Ordinance, making extensive use of existing architectural features (like exposed ductwork), recycling millwork from the original lab and repurposing industrial components for post-industrial use. Other sustainable features include high recycled-content carpet and energy-efficient lighting.
Studio O+A
Facebook provides meals to staff at all hours, so their kitchen and café were an important element in the design. A bright orange industrial crane that was left over from the building's previous user was repurposed by San Francisco sculptor Oliver DiCicco to support a table surface.
Studio O+A
A private meeting area makes use of stripes and colors.
Studio O+A
And, if that wasn't drool-worthy enough for you, an outdoor basketball court and indoor ping-pong table offer some fun after-work (or during work) recreation. Wait, is that a DJ table? Oh boy, I need to update my resume...
Studio O+A
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
DORO 9-30-2009 @ 2:11PM
AWESOME DESIGN! LESS PRETENTIOUS THAN ANTICIPATED!
KUDOS TO THE ARCHITECTS!
Reply
sarah 10-04-2009 @ 4:05PM
Yeah! great office but where do they actually do their work!! Looks to me as if nobody actually works from what the pics are showing, if they're not sitting around or playing chess, then they are riding skateboards? WTF! No wonder I hate going on my page! Everything either only half loads, doesnt' load at all, or takes all day to do anything!! Looks as if the workers are as slow as the website!!
Sunny 10-04-2009 @ 4:49PM
I think the bicycle and skate board manaquin is for decoration. The place looks expensive. But the cost of making it probably isn't. Like The exposed ceiling. But great design.
k 10-05-2009 @ 7:14AM
Looks like a glorified dorm room to me, but I guess I'm showing my age! LOL!! Hard to believe *kids* are running such successful companies. Good for them! :o)
Arnaud 11-01-2009 @ 5:15PM
So forced, posed and obvious. Total lack of originality.
bigrich 10-01-2009 @ 4:48PM
ok
Reply
alyssa 10-04-2009 @ 10:23AM
That's FAB-U-LOUS! It's just plain beautiful like the designer is just magnificent...I WISH I WORKED THERE NOW!
Reply
mariana 10-04-2009 @ 10:35PM
Sunny Palo Alto, fun offices,.....yeah! Nice!
Helen 10-04-2009 @ 6:20PM
I wonder when Facebook is going to ask for a monthly fee . I ndont see as much interest on Facebook as there use to be Too bad it was a lot of fun and pleasure Lets get people working and invent something to keep the interest of people also the clean mouth So lets please not gte stale SO long for now
Hellat2@aol.com
aimeelynn1216 10-04-2009 @ 2:58PM
And apparently employees ride skateboards and bicycles everywhere?
Reply
geo 10-04-2009 @ 3:01PM
Wooowwweeeeeeeee! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Reply
Brian 10-04-2009 @ 3:03PM
nice offices to bad their site blows
Reply
Playstationboy1 10-04-2009 @ 3:06PM
Perhaps they should stop riding around on their Segways and update their servers so Facebook stops having glitches
Reply
Kuxir 10-04-2009 @ 4:13PM
And perhaps you should starting paying Facebook monthly for keeping up your profile...
Rebecca 10-04-2009 @ 4:23PM
Now when am I going to be able to sign back on to FB? They have disabled my site for the past 24 hours for "maintenance". Is this new architecture supposed to help them function better or something??????
Reply
Lita 10-06-2009 @ 4:16PM
It's nice but it kinda looks like an IKEA store.
Reply
Chantae 10-04-2009 @ 4:47PM
yea they can have fancy offices wen fb always havin glitches
Reply
Carla 10-04-2009 @ 4:51PM
I work in a chemical plant where the plant manager only worries about what time you go to lunch and what time you go to the shower(5 minutes shower time). I would gladly work for a company that wants you to enjoy your work day. I think it is great how Facebook employees are treated.
Yours truly,
Carla
Reply
johnyo628 10-05-2009 @ 7:36AM
you get to take a shower at work dude what kind of a job do you work at that you take a shower at work
Alan Cheney 10-04-2009 @ 4:50PM
My brother and I set up our Face Books at the same time on our lap tops right next to each other. My lap top is newer than his but hangs up everytime i try to get on this site. I watch him just flying around on his, and mine just has the hour glass sitting there sping. It is so frustrating, that i dont like to get on there. But all of my friends and family are on there.
Reply