A sneak peek at Facebook's HQ

Here at Swide we love nothing more than peeking behind the scenes to see how other people work and of course play. When we heard about Facebook's new home at the Stanford Research Park we couldn't wait to see if it resembled Douglas Coupland's Microserfs or something cooler lurked beneath.

Studio O+A, a San Francisco based interior design worked with Facebook on the transformation of the massive 150,000-square-foot space which was the former laboratory of measuring equipment manufacturer Agilent Technologies. Prior to this new office workers for the social networking site who serve 200 million users were scattered throughout 10 locations around the city of Palo Alto – ironically using the site to stay connected.

Prior to the building’s completion, The Facebook platform was used to conduct company-wide polls about design decisions, post construction photos and updates, and keep everyone informed of the thought process behind the project – to maintain a sense of community and identity that each division had established.

The company wanted to reflect the brand’s values – creativity, freedom of expression and individuality and create a space for its employees that work hard – and want to live the space they’re in. Extras such as an in-house café serve gourmet meals around the clock and company executives sit in central areas, accessible to all employees.

Reflecting employees’ desire for a green headquarters, the facility is the first commercial project completed under Palo Alto’s 2008 Green Building Ordinance, making extensive use of existing architectural features, recycling millwork from the original lab, and repurposing industrial components for post-industrial use.