Cisco Umbrella

Combining an existing warehouse with new architectural insertions as "raw" and "cooked" elements

  • Type Workplace,
  • Location San Francisco, California
  • Area 56,000 s.f.
  • Status Built
  • Date 2016

Open DNS (now Cisco Umbrella) a rapidly growing tech company, already occupied 14,000 sf in a SoMa warehouse when they acquired an additional 14,000 sf and engaged Min | Day (now Actual Architecture Co.) to design the first of two expansions, now totaling 56,000 sf. Charged to connect new and existing workspaces with minimal disturbance to operations, the design overcomes the egress and infrastructure requirements of new occupant loads in the 1915 building while maintaining the raw industrial character of the existing building. By minimizing painted gypsum board surfaces, consolidating them to core areas, and maintaining exposed concrete columns with mushroom capitals, concrete ceilings, and exposed ventilation and conduit, the project dramatically mixes raw and cooked qualities of architectural finish. The newly designed elements incorporate company branding through color and graphics while blending formal and informal work areas.

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Second lobby with custom 16-foot steel reception desk, panels above are milled with a data visualization produced by a company engineer.

Detail of reception desk with flip-top sign-in and succulent trough.

Conference rooms fronting the all-hands space, painted acoustical panels in the foreground.

One of several engineering team areas, this area was designed to be open and approachable as the team interacts with all divisions across the company.

The most private spaces are hidden below the raised seating at the all-hands area.

All-hands with painted suspended acoustical panels.
“The Portal” is a transition zone linking the all-hands event space to an open work space.

Custom furniture with clear IdeaPaint over the plywood allowing for breakout seating and meeting areas.

Game library.

Entry Lobby

Photography By Photography by Bruce Damonte

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