Inside Intuit’s Next-Gen Workplace In San Francisco

Sprawled across some 34,000 square feet on the 5th floor of a South of Market (SoMa) midrise, Intuit’s new San Francisco offices aren’t just a workplace. Thanks to careful collaboration between interior design firm The Bureau, IA Interior Architects, and a team of digital, lighting, plantscapers, and furniture experts, the office is a prototype for Intuit offices to come.

“It tests new approaches,” says The Bureau founder Sarah Giesenhagen, “using immersive, locally-inspired storytelling.” She’s referring to the local art program, which includes 38 pieces of original art made by local artists installed throughout the space. A trio of murals—like the striking, 24-foot-long one in the main conference room, in which Hannah Ember Sitzer depicts the history of the city’s vibrant music scene—deepen the commitment.

Behind the Design of an Immersive Office For Intuit

These visual interventions are key introductions in the project, which otherwise retained some 90% of the existing walls, ceilings, and doors, and integrated iconic furniture pieces from previous Intuit offices. The idea, she says, was to “work with existing architectural framework to make thoughtful modifications without unnecessary waste.”

And to make the offices work for Intuit’s more than two hundred Bay Area employees. To that end, The Bureau carved the floorplan into discrete “neighborhoods.” Custom plank carpet tiles in a wood grain pattern by Interface, installed in a parquet lay up or a large-scale stripe, unite the project. Each zone tends toward a spirit of hospitality, with shared team tables and millwork in bold jewel tones.

A Burst Of Color Brings An Office To Life

Both assigned and open-address workstations dot the neighborhoods, along with drop-in rooms defined by vinyl murals of the kinds of small businesses, from laundromats to robotics studios, supported by Intuit products. The team painted frames around window cutouts so these murals catch the eye. The move, says 2×4 senior design partner Leigha Dennis, is intentional. “Every element should reflect Intuit’s values. Ultimately, the space will serve as both a cultural beacon and a prototype for the future Intuit workplace experience.” 

The Intuit Office In San Francisco Charts A New Path For Workplaces