Innovative Office Interiors

This San Francisco headquarters for Kirshenbaum, Bond, & Partners Westis a bit like a candy shop for adults. A bright green phone booth is used for conference calls at the advertising agency, and stadium-stairs are used for company meetings. Have an idea? Chalk it on the wall. Jensen Architects also built an indoor garden into the plans, and allowed for a bit of privacy, too: Three separate wings can be acoustically sealed off from the rest of the space.

The challenge: Pallotta Teamworks needed to consolidate its growing team into a single creative headquarters in Los Angeles. The company, which produces charitable road races and other events, found a 47,000 square foot unconditioned warehouse space to build out, but it was on a strict budget of $40 per square foot. Clive Wilkinson Architects took the job, and took a radical approach to opening up functional and creative aspirations by looking for future savings in heating and cooling. It maximized daylight through skylights, isolated air conditioning to the islands where people worked most, and built islands of offices, including an impressive "executive tower."

There's the power lunch and the power tie, so why not the "power office?" In this 17th century converted space in Amsterdam, Office 00 places every board member in the spotlight - literally. Designed by i29 l interior architects and Eckhardt&Leeuwenstein, large oval-shaped lampshades and oval-shaped carpeting define the separate working areas and provide a sense of individuality for employees.

The idea of a "Citizen Office" is to give the employees a voice in how they do their work. Vitra Citizen took that concept to heart when working with architect Sevil Peach in designing offices Rhein, Germany. In Vitra Citizen, employees decide whether to stand or sit, use a chair or sofa. The options are plentiful, and when everything is accessible, it's easy to change gears and tackle new assignments.

Taking kids to the dentist can be a hostile experience. That's why Sugarbug pediatric dental office in Oxnard, California, uses contrasting colors and architectural details to dazzle and engage the patients (and, presumably, distract them). Conceived by A B Design Studio, the space incorporates a play area and parent waiting room — smart additions to give those who are waiting (often anxiously) a place to regain composure.

A gem among the industrial buildings of the Mission district in San Francisco, this century-old warehouse is the home of the industrial design firm One & Co.. Designed by Cary Bernstein Architects, the office is a study in minimalism, transparency and privacy; materials like glass, brick, and wood add to the contrasting texture and enhance the building's classic, natural feel.