Starbucks Headquarters

Work and Ideas›

Seattle, WA

As companies evolve, their workplaces must be ready to respond to future needs. Yet decades of additions and renovations to the Starbucks headquarters—which shared space with a Sears department store—resulted in a fragmented building that was difficult to navigate. After Sears closed, the design team collaborated with the company to create a new main entry and lobby, as well as envision a new workspace in the “Sears” section of the building, balancing existing features with new structures and materials.

NBBJ, SODO, Sears, Seattle, Starbucks, WA, details, interiors, remodel, texture, rope, installation, art

In a region booming with tech-sector growth, the company’s new entry, lobby and workplace environment supports its goals to compete for the most exceptional talent. It also maintains a commitment to elements that matter deeply to humans: daylight, scale, truth in materials and camaraderie. The project creates a welcoming, branded presence—streamlining employee access to their workspaces with healthier ways of movement and providing an array of flexible and diverse work areas for visitors and staff.

Features

Previously located on the eighth floor, the lobby required visitors to first enter and then await antiquated elevators as part of their arrival experience. With the new lobby, employees can choose to directly access their main workplaces via an 8-foot monumental “communicating” stair instead. This single point of connection at the lobby ties the upper floors to the street level, enabling employees to directly access both the outdoors and upper floors while encouraging exercise.

In the workplace, the natural character of the 1925 warehouse provides a unique collection of tucked-away meeting areas for both solo and team work. Artful moments, such as a custom woven burlap portal by a local artist and knotted rope screens, harken back to the company’s maritime roots. Blackened wood veneers, soft wools and a warm neutral palette complement the weathered timber and concrete shell.

A large opening in the third level floor, which previously housed an escalator, limited the use of the full floor. This area became an asset, providing an opportunity to create a double-height space while improving visibility for employees from one floor to the next. This enhanced connection enabled a simple remnant to become a core workspace amenity that improves navigation and supports a range of activities, from hosting employee meetings to larger town halls.

The project also features sustainable finishes and re-used materials. Over 200 tons of steel were put into place, nearly all of which is recycled content sourced from Portland. The project team also reclaimed teak from old buildings—complete with patched nail holes—while the concrete contains fly ash and slag. In addition, the project refinished the existing maple wood floor where possible, and salvaged 100-year-old heat radiators in the space.

Project Details

Client Name
Starbucks

Square Footage
72,289 SF

Program
Lobby, workplace, meeting rooms

Services
Architecture, interiors, lighting, environmental graphics

Phase
Completed

Client Name
Starbucks

Square Footage
72,289 SF

Program
Lobby, workplace, meeting rooms

Services
Architecture, interiors, lighting, environmental graphics

Phase
Completed

IIDA Northern Pacific Chapter INawards, INmass Macro Winner
NAIOP Washington State Night of the Stars Winner, Office Redevelopment of the Year
NAIOP Washington State Night of the Stars Finalist, Redevelopment / Renovation of the Year
Business Week / Architectural Record Award

Starbucks Headquarters

Features

Project Details

Related Content