Notion

A concierge reception and central barista café turn the first floor into a welcoming social hub. A new opening connects directly to the courtyard, while a curved stair with integrated banquettes makes movement between levels a place to pause, meet, and see the headquarters at work. Upstairs, a large seating area shifts between lunchroom and all-hands venue; a social-club lounge supports smaller conversations; and a daylit training room overlooks Market Street. A wood-paneled library and dedicated deep-focus room provide the counterpoint. Translucent curtains, diffused light, and measured accents of Notion red create privacy, warmth, and intuitive orientation without overpowering the historic shell.

Custom wood ceilings, wainscoting, and hardwood millwork give the new interventions craft and permanence. Construction also uncovered materials worth keeping. Boxed steel columns were revealed and refinished, marble discovered beneath later elevator-lobby flooring was preserved, and the top of a bar from a long-closed basement venue became standing handrail tables. A new fire-rated window now frames the building’s bronze internal stair. These elements return to daily use rather than becoming static relics. By adapting the design as discoveries emerged, IA protected the building’s character while giving Notion a contemporary workplace built for gathering, concentration, and continued investment in downtown San Francisco.