Editor's note: Check Techwire.net on Monday for a followup slideshow spotlighting these offices.
When people think of cool offices, they often think of tech offices, especially Google, Apple or other tech giants. However, there are plenty of interesting offices spread throughout California. Techwire was invited to tour some of these facilities, and others sent us photos to compare their offices to others.
Ventura County's IT building is leased from a design company that used to occupy it. It boasts a sky bridge and large movable glass boards to write on during collaboration sessions.
Roseville's IT building is brand new and partially inhabited by renters such as Sierra College and food vendors. This public-private partnership made the new, sleek offices possible.
DirectTechnology, with its oversized couches in the collaboration areas, foosball table and full-size kitchen, may seem more like a lounge than an office. But the company won a "Coolest Office in Sacramento" award for playing hard — and also snagged the California State Fair's "Champion of Technology" award for working hard.
Cisco employees will tell you there isn't much to their Sacramento office — most of the desks remain empty for whoever wants to drop in and use them — but the company's ability to be borderless is its specialty. Untethered desks, conference rooms that wake up when you enter because your cellphone matches the room's high-frequency vibration, and cellphone apps to log you into a real-time conference all allow employees to be there without being there — making wherever they are their own cool office.
The Cal Independent System Operator department manages most of the power running through California's grid, so energy efficiency was important when the organization built a new office. The building boasts a LEEDs Platinum re-certification and recycles most gray water. The high glass windows admit sunshine most of the day to minimize the need for artificial light, and employees can save gas by staying onsite for meals in the full-service cafeteria. The grid control room is actually in a separate building adjacent to the offices and is designed to be a calming, comfortable place where engineers can respond to crisis conditions.
