For Tolleson, a nationally recognized branding and creative agency, a relocation to San Francisco’s Barbary Coast represents the third iteration of its studio evolution as well as partnership with Huntsman and Design Workshops. Formerly the showroom for the Amtico flooring company, this two-story warehouse embodied many of the original office’s rustic characteristics such as exposed brick walls and wood trusses, wood floors, and skylights. Coming from a 3,500 square foot space, Tolleson had the opportunity to configure its new office to better relate to how the firm currently works. This translated into a suite of spaces catering to client engagement, an expansion of the studio, and the addition of video and audio editing and photography studios. Many of the features of the original office come into play; the reception desk is made of hot rolled steel – a technique that defined the design direction of the first studio. Timber trusses and posts were bead-blasted to reflect the original redwood warmth and color. New steel beams form room edges and define a contrast with the original construction. Reclaimed wood from former barns clad side walls and extend up to a mezzanine level which was added as part of the building renovation. Rippled glass panels hark back to design elements of the first office and provide both transparency and privacy.

Tolleson is a creative agency located on San Francisco's historic Jackson square. Throughout their 28 years, they have delivered branded experiences in a range of marketing touchpoints for clients large and small around the world. They are proof that good design is good for business. In November, 2011 Tolleson moved to 560 Pacific Avenue. The renovation of the 11,000 sq. ft. warehouse and subsequent move were over a year in the making.

For us to have the ability to be efficient and to help our clients create, differentiate, and improve the value of their brands, our set up professionally required more space for knowledge creation. The overall reason for moving was to accommodate growth of the company, from new services offered, in addition to new clients, and internal employee growth. We identified requirements for more break out spaces, conference rooms, more storage to incorporate video and photography, plus a larger kitchen. More work space options all get factored into a move. We looked at different ways space gets used, to be more creative, relaxed and engaging.

"We created a nice mix of Coalesse furniture and classic pieces to balance out within the architecture and that accentuates our ideas of what our space could be." Steve Tolleson, Principal, Creative Director

"Our three break out spaces at the front of the studio allow for casual and open meeting spaces that are sometimes around a work table and sometimes just sitting in a chair at the library for when you’re doing your own individual thinking." Bill Bowers, Interactive Creative Director