Construction progresses on OpenAI’s new headquarters, designed by Woods Bagot through its Los Angeles and San Francisco studios.
When OpenAI needed a headquarters that would reflect the humanity behind artificial intelligence, they found their answer in an unlikely partnership: Lauren Turner in Los Angeles and Laura Wall in San Francisco. Two designers, two cities, one vision—and a 315,000-square-foot project that promises to set new standards for what tech spaces can be. The team’s ability to work seamlessly across our LA and SF studios while maintaining constant client engagement has been instrumental in delivering a project that truly reflects OpenAI’s cutting-edge culture.
Lauren and Laura couldn’t be more different. Lauren, the project architect, brings left-brain precision – breaking down complex challenges, translating client’s needs, and keeping massive projects on track. Laura, the lead designer, operates from the right brain – pattern clashing, risk-taking aesthetics, and an eye for the “pretty stuff” that transforms offices into experiences.
“Lauren can diffuse situations and ground conversations when things get tense,” Laura explains. “She makes everything understandable.” Meanwhile, Laura is also quick to praise the client’s creative courage: “It’s been fun to have a client willing to go there with me – he’s brave, which is rare.”
Laura Wall (let) and Lauren Turner (right)
Lauren and Laura with Jospeh Killian from OpenAI
Their client, Joseph Killian from OpenAI, puts it this way: “Working with Lauren and Laura from Woods Bagot on one of our most important global offices has been an absolute privilege. Lauren, as project architect, has brought a level of diligence, precision, and consistency that sets a new benchmark—she is truly one of the best, if not the best, project architects I’ve had the opportunity to work with. Laura, as lead designer, has been the creative eye and guiding hand behind a design that is nothing short of exceptional. Together, their attention to detail, ability to solve complex challenges, and commitment to keeping us on track have been instrumental in bringing this project to life.”
The central challenge the Woods Bagot team faced was, how do you create a space for a company pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence that still feels fundamentally human? They found their answer in California’s craftsman movement, celebrating imperfection, revealing the human hand, and embracing the thousands of people behind the technology.
“As much as artificial intelligence is evolving, there’s an army of humans behind it,” explained Laura. The design response: materials that show how they were made, spaces that feel more like hospitality environments than sterile tech, and custom elements that could only come from human hands.
A conscious decision was agreed to by both the design team and the client to feature and celebrate the work of local artists. The headquarters will feature reclaimed materials from Grace Cathedral that have been transformed into a custom glass installation and the massive central stair will have a custom art piece to match its impressive scale. Other bespoke art is found throughout the spaces—all anchored by Lauren’s spatial strategy and brought to life through Laura’s interior vision.
What makes this partnership remarkable isn’t just Lauren and Laura’s complementary skills, it’s how effortlessly they work across 400 miles. Both working mothers, they’ve mastered the art of collaboration, leaning on each other and respecting each other’s time schedules all while maintaining a deep level of trust for the unique strengths and capabilities they bring to the project. The support and appreciation Laura and Lauren have for each other extends to their relationship with the client, the project manager and the consultant team, all of whom they credit with a foundation of stability that has been critical to the success of the project.
Lauren shares “As Project Designer, Laura’s dedication and fearless design approach have guided and protected the project vision throughout every phase. She serves as a beacon of inspiration for me and many others. This project’s success has hinged on the strength of our team – their passion and determination have shown that our collective contributions are greater than the sum of individual parts. Most importantly, we’ve maintained compassion, support, and fun throughout. It’s been a great experience from start to finish.”
The project scope is staggering: six levels, millions of permits, a library, commercial kitchen, executive suite, and a massive café. The timeline is ambitious too – the top floors open December 2025, with the full headquarters completed by May 2026.
Laura predicts, “This space will set the tone for tech.” In an industry often criticised for sterile, cookie-cutter offices, OpenAI’s headquarters promises something different: a space designed to offer comfort and elegance, blending bespoke elements with approachability for all who work there.
Lauren and Laura’s partnership reveals a powerful truth: design’s future lies not in solitary brilliance, but in collaborative intelligence that transforms projects. Analytical precision meets creative vision, architectural strategy meets interior soul, cross-coast expertise meets shared purpose.
For Woods Bagot, it’s a perfect example of what our “multi-authorship” approach can achieve. For the tech industry, it may be the blueprint for what headquarters can become when humanity takes centre stage.
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