| Hudson Valley Lighting Group International

Photos by Garrett Rowland

As one of the leading Silicon Valley tech companies, Dropbox serves millions of users each year by allowing them to easily access and share their files and collaborate on projects. To reflect the open and collaborative nature of this service, Dropbox recently revamped its 300,000-square-foot San Francisco headquarters into a new, breathtaking office designed to better reflect their synergetic point of view.

While the newly open, airy and flexible office spaces are now ideal for sudden breakout sessions and meet ups, the food hall and café are the heartbeat of this tech giant’s headquarters. AvroKO, known for their provocative architecture and environments, was tapped to design these food-centered spaces. Channeling the idea of “neighborhoods” within the office to bring people together, AvroKO designed these areas to be multipurpose – equally appropriate for dining, meetings, brainstorms and more.

Taking inspiration from one of the company’s mottos, "Sweat the details,” the design focuses on small features and individually-crafted furniture and lighting to transform moods and create flexible spaces. In true collaborative form, Goodshop, AvroKO’s in-house custom furniture and lighting division that works with leading furniture and lighting manufacturers, turned to Troy Lighting’s contract and custom division to execute its custom lighting design concepts for the project. The result: Goodshop by Troy Lighting.

Custom pendant globes in handblown glass executed by Goodshop by Troy illuminate the new AvroKO-designed cafeteria inside Dropbox headquarters

AvroKO’s design focuses on small features to transform moods and create flexible spaces

A stunning yet minimalist table illuminated by custom lighting

A beautiful, sculptural custom brass chandelier hangs in the main entry of the food hall, which boasts six main food stations divided by a variety of screens made of transparent linen materials. Some screens are constructed around main banquettes and are adjustable to create pockets ideal for a private gathering with a coworker or a professional presentation or meeting. The handcrafted lighting in the juice bar resembles a modern take on old street lamps, drawing from the neighborhood concept, while the entryway chandelier has adjustable frames that slide up and down on tracks, imitating the Muni Metro transit lines of San Francisco.

The café Tuck Shop is designed to evoke a residential feel. It’s a place of comfort, with each furniture group possessing an eclectic mix of chairs, floor rugs and accessories similar to a living room. Custom pendant globes in handblown glass illuminate the café, which boasts its own coffee roaster, encased by a blackened steel perimeter, which is visible to diners. A much-needed upgrade to austere office break rooms of yore, these new spaces help usher in an exciting and innovative future for the evolving workplace.