Ai2 Headquarters
A great workplace is more than walls and desks—it is an ecosystem where people and ideas can flourish. For the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (Ai2), the challenge was to create a home for their growing organization under one roof while honoring their ambitious mission: to solve the world’s biggest problems through open-source breakthrough AI.
From the outset, Ai2 envisioned a space “better than home,” where brilliant teams would feel supported, inspired, and connected. The warmth and striking natural beauty of a mass timber structure with panoramic views of Lake Union, Downtown Seattle, and the Cascade Mountains sets the stage for an interior design rooted in biophilia, transparency, and equity.
The inspiration for Ai2’s new headquarters was the idea of an ecosystem: a living system where every part, from the individual to the whole, depends on balance and interconnection. This metaphor is translated directly into spatial planning. Intimate “neighborhoods” of six to twelve desks provide focus and a sense of belonging, buffered by architectural “end caps” that highlight work-in-progress and foster casual interactions. The “spaces in between” become zones of connectivity, where the energy and ideas of the organization can flow.
The interior architecture respects the unique beauty of the mass timber building. Rather than concealing structure behind layers of drywall and services, all new volumes “float” off the beams and columns to let the beauty of the wood breathe. These floating forms are designed for disassembly, ensuring flexibility for future change and avoiding material waste. In doing so, the design honors the craftsmanship of the building and creates a highly sustainable interior.
Ai2 prioritized a workplace that supports all employees and allows for individual autonomy and control. This meant carefully balancing acoustics, lighting, and visual distraction with the need for openness and transparency while also considering the role of analog versus digital experiences. Design elements, such as layered materials and small fidgets emphasize tactility, functioning as both grounding tools and conversation starters. A circulation path called “the loop” offers a place for employees to pace as they think through complicated problems.
Equity is also embedded throughout the design: the best lake views are intentionally reserved for shared amenities, and a living-room style arrival signals openness and hospitality. A café and hearth welcome visitors and employees, underscoring Ai2’s culture of inclusivity and community.
The holistic design approach considers both sustainability and human well-being at every scale, following the principles of Living Design. These drivers shaped each design decision, resulting in circular systems, flexible demountable walls, sustainable lighting strategies, acoustic performance, and healthy material selections.
Layered, adjustable lighting supports circadian rhythms, while zoned thermal controls allow personalized comfort. Operable windows, outdoor areas, and spaces for respite provide fresh air and restoration throughout the workplace. The result is an environment that not only elevates productivity but enriches the emotional, physical, and social wellbeing of Ai2’s employees.
The pandemic reframed workplace expectations, and Ai2 embraced these changes. Technology is seamlessly integrated to support hybrid collaboration, ensuring that remote colleagues feel equally present and included. Meeting spaces range from small one-on-ones to a flexible “fun room” designed to spark creativity, all supported by adaptable furniture and operable walls. The Hearth transforms from café to all-hands venue, embodying the idea of multipurpose, human-centered design.
Ai2’s mission—open, transparent, human-centered AI—is expressed through the very fabric of the workplace. It is not a fortress of secrecy, but a welcoming home. It is tactile, approachable, and filled with natural light and warmth. It celebrates the people who make the breakthroughs possible and gives them the environment they deserve, enhancing the workplace culture and inspiring their best work.
This headquarters represents a new model for the workplace that is sustainable, equitable, flexible, and deeply human. It is an ecosystem in which Ai2’s extraordinary community can continue to thrive, solving the world’s greatest challenges together.
Sophie Lebrecht, Chief Operating Officer, Ai2
