Most offices are designed around space. The best workplaces are designed for people.

That was the approach behind the Allen Institute for AI’s new home at Northlake Commons in Seattle, the city’s first large scale mass timber commercial office building.

Working alongside Perkins&Will, Seneca Group, and GLY Construction, Porter Interiors helped AI2 create a workplace centered on connection, flexibility, and community. Detailed employee input from across the organization informed the design from early feedback through furniture testing and workspace mockups.

Priorities included:

• Spaces for deep focus and team collaboration
• Flexible environments that evolve as teams grow
• Design choices that support neurodiversity and comfort
• Hospitality driven spaces that encourage connection

At the center is the Hearth, a café and gathering space overlooking Lake Union. Surrounding neighborhoods, focus rooms, lounges, and terraces give employees choice in how and where they work.

Sustainability highlights:

• LEED Core & Shell v4.0 Platinum certified
• Bioswales that filter 2.6 million gallons of stormwater annually
• Cross laminated timber structure that reduces carbon impact
• Built on the original Dunn Lumber yard, with mass timber elements expressed throughout as a nod to the site’s legacy
• 60,000 square feet of outdoor terraces connecting people to nature

Designed for flexibility, the space supports everything from daily work to company meetings for 150 people and all hands gatherings of 250+. Adaptive layouts and supplemental seating allow spaces to scale with team needs.

Ready to create a workplace that works as uniquely as your team does? Let’s talk.