Woodruff Sawyer, one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the US, started an internal conversation about how they could better the workplace to support their staff’s needs. 

Through extensive discovery sessions with the client, we were able to create a road map of objectives that defined how to approach the design of their new office. These included:

Community and Culture, Mission: “One Woodruff”, Health & Wellness, Technology, Work Flow, Efficiency, Experience & Design

The design for the East Bay office is inspired by the clarity of the CAO’s and CEO’s vision to support their staff’s well-being. From the discovery sessions, the Mission, regarded as “One Woodruff”, emerged as a planned space without assigned seating and increased amenity space, where people could work with efficiency and purpose. The office would be located for employees that lived in the East Bay to reduce commute times and improve productivity. 

A secured entry off the interior corridor leads to an intimate meeting space, where users have the option of closed conference rooms, open teaming or individual seating for heads down work. These areas are defined with various layers of materials, planes, hard surface flooring, veneer wrapped walls and textured ceilings. Woodruff’s brand logo was also integrated into the architecture through a subtle play on the shape of the shield. As users move to the other end of the office, a key area is reached. The lounge and pantry is open and light, a departure from the intimate entry. This space would be used for casual seating and meetings as well as an all hands space to help define the company’s culture. During the course of the project, it was clear that Woodruff Sawyer was one big family that shared the same vision and the mission of “One Woodruff” really came through.