Expedia Office

Expedia Office
© Eric Laignel

Expedia Office 

Rapt Studio

ARCHITECTS
Rapt Studio

PHOTOGRAPHS
Eric Laignel

AREA
10000 M²

YEAR
2013

LOCATION
San Francisco, United States

CATEGORY
Offices, Adaptive Reuse, Offices Interiors

For their San Francisco office, Expedia wanted a space with a raw and natural feel, selecting 10,000 sf at a historic building: 114 Sansome Street.

Expedia Office
© Eric Laignel
Expedia Office
© Eric Laignel

Rapt programmed the space with different zones based around the theme of travel. By naming these spaces after various local neighborhoods, Rapt’s design team gave a feeling of connection to San Francisco; a presence and a tie to the city.

One of the main design solutions involved the duality of workspace as home, and home as office. As part of the move-in process, staff will source their own souvenirs of these individual San Francisco neighborhoods, collecting trinkets from their travels around the city.

Expedia Office
© Eric Laignel
Expedia Office
© Eric Laignel

Personal and collected ephemera will remind the end users of place, and of memory created around travel, infusing brand culture and activity into the space.

Expedia wanted a wide range of environments and an office that was more tailored to a mobile workforce – flexibility was key. With a mix of environments and functionality, staff are able find their own personal nook within the space, offering a place for both introverts and extroverts.

Expedia Office
© Eric Laignel
Expedia Office
© Eric Laignel

Rapt’s design team took into account such variables as preferred seating and types and postures, as well as different sound levels - incorporating lively and quiet zones. After-hours lighting also ensures that the space takes on a different feel after dark, much like the character of any city or urban environment.

The client wanted more of a custom look to their furniture selection, so Rapt’s design team used smaller manufacturers for workstations, and unique vintage furniture was found to help express brand personality.

Expedia Office
© Eric Laignel
Expedia Office
© Eric Laignel

Expedia also wanted the capacity to host events, such as product launches or events geared towards the developer or creative communities.

The space undoubtedly functions as a recruiting tool to anyone that is welcomed into the space, effectively broadcasting Expedia’s corporate message and culture.

Expedia Office
© Eric Laignel