An office, technically.

When the Jamie & Denise Jacob Family Foundation set out to move their office to Detroit, they had a clear vision: create a space that reflected their values, welcomed people in—and didn’t feel anything like a traditional office.

So we borrowed from somewhere else entirely.

All the function of a high-performing workplace. The curated comforts of home. The energy of great hospitality.

We designed for the different ways a workday actually happens—places to gather, focus, collaborate, host, have an impromptu conversation or simply step away for a minute.

Warm materials, layered textiles, collected furnishings and thoughtful lighting soften the workplace, while intentional planning keeps everything highly functional behind the scenes.

But perhaps our favorite part? Design became a tool for storytelling.

Art, furnishings and objects weren’t decoration added at the end. They became opportunities to communicate something about the organization, the people behind it and the work they do.

The result is a workplace that tells you something before anyone says a word.

And that’s where we believe workplace design is heading.

More human connection. Stronger culture. Different ways to work. Employees who feel considered. Guests who immediately understand where they’ve arrived. And, perhaps most importantly, a place people actually want to be.

All the functions of an office.
The curated comforts of home.
The experience of great hospitality.

That’s the opportunity we see in the next generation of workplace design: creating spaces where organizations don’t simply put their values on the wall—they get to live them.