Video Game Office Blends Creativity, Flexibility, and Playful Design

Offices are designed to be places of productivity, creativity, and collaboration. But when these offices cater to the people who build some of the most popular video games in the world, they need to be more than just functional—they must also be fun and inspiring. Tiburon, a renowned video game manufacturer based in Orlando, Florida, developed iconic games such as Madden and College Football USA for four years before undergoing a significant change. EA Sports, recognizing the talent and potential at Tiburon, acquired a minority interest in the company. This acquisition allowed Tiburon to create games exclusively for EA Sports, setting the stage for an era of remarkable growth and innovation. However, this expansion also necessitated the development of a new office space to support the growing team. The solution came in the form of a state-of-the-art building at 515 W Amelia St, meticulously designed by Baker Barrios Architecture.

Before the design process began, Baker Barrios Architecture held in-depth meetings with EA executives to gain a comprehensive understanding of their vision and priorities for the new workplace. The executives had a few specific requests that were non-negotiable. One of the top priorities was the inclusion of a motion capture studio, essential for filming and modeling athletes to enhance the realism of their sports games. This high-tech studio would be a critical component of the game development process, allowing the team to capture the nuances of movement and bring their digital athletes to life.

Another key request was the implementation of partitions throughout the office to help designers and testers control the amount of light hitting their monitors. In the world of game development, lighting conditions are crucial for ensuring that the visual quality of the games is maintained at the highest level. These partitions would enable the team to create the ideal working environment, minimizing glare and distractions while maximizing focus and productivity.

One of the most unique and beloved features from their previous office, which the executives were keen to replicate, was the ball pit conference table. This unconventional conference table had become a legendary aspect of the company’s culture. It was not just a meeting place; it was a symbol of the playful and creative spirit that defined the company’s approach to work. The ball pit conference table was where some of the most important and creative meetings took place, and it also served as a constant reminder that work could be fun. At times, executives would even sit in the ball pit to lighten the mood during particularly intense meetings. Visitors to the office often requested to see the table, marveling at the absurd yet delightful contrast between a traditional boardroom setting and a whimsical game room.

“We knew we wanted to replicate the iconic ball pit, but we had to figure out how to make it work in its new setting,” said Sydney Moeller, Principal and Director of Workplace Strategies at Baker Barrios Architecture. “This was during COVID, so we also had to consider how to keep it clean and sanitized.” The ball pit became a symbol of the office’s unique culture, blending creativity, playfulness, and practicality in a way that few workplaces can achieve.

The ball pit was just one element of the overall design theme. The new five-story building is vertically connected by a large, glass-enclosed staircase that serves as the spine of the structure. This staircase is surrounded by a mural featuring characters from the company’s most popular games, creating a visually stunning thematic connection that ties the entire building together. The artwork can be seen from inside the stairs and on each level, providing a constant reminder of the company’s creative output. The ground floor includes a café and cafeteria, complete with a large gathering area designed for all-hands meetings, or as the team affectionately calls it, a “beer and cheer” space, where the team can come together to celebrate successes and unwind.

Aesthetically, the workspace is a blend of natural and digital elements, reflecting the dual worlds that video games inhabit. Light wood, modern fixtures, and colorful artwork are used throughout the space to create an environment that is both lighthearted and sophisticated. “Video games blend the natural and digital worlds, so we used a lot of natural wood with advanced tech features,” Moeller said. The result is a workspace that feels warm and inviting while also being cutting-edge and technologically advanced.

The design also took into account the diverse teams that make up the game development process, including artists, engineers, developers, and testers. Each team works independently, but collaboration within and between divisions is essential. “We like to use the term ‘woven adjacencies,’” said Moeller. “These are spaces that are open but have distinct areas to provide privacy and avoid distractions.” This concept was achieved by incorporating phone booth pods and other visual cues to separate different “neighborhoods” within the office. Employees can move freely between areas, but there are clear indicators that they are transitioning from one distinct space to another.

Flexibility was another critical component of the design. Almost all the indoor walls are moveable, allowing the workplace team to experiment with different layouts and configurations to optimize space utilization and activity. Large conference rooms are equipped with built-in partitions that can be easily adjusted to create smaller, more intimate gathering spaces when needed. “We heard that they wanted huddle rooms and different sizes of conference rooms, but instead of just delivering those in a static way, we wanted to make the space dynamic so it could provide options they didn’t have before,” Moeller explained.

The result is a workplace that is as dynamic, flexible, and innovative as the games Tiburon creates, providing a perfect environment for creativity to thrive.