The Dogpatch Tech All-Hands Arena
A rapid-growth AI startup in the Dogpatch secured a warehouse space with soaring 25-foot ceilings. They needed a central Town Hall space for weekly all-hands meetings for 150 employees, but they hated the idea of folding chairs. They wanted a permanent, architectural seating solution that doubled as a casual lounge during the week. The challenge was structural: creating a tiered stadium seating structure that was self-supporting, modular in case they moved, and did not require pouring concrete foundations inside a leased building.
We used 3D design to engineer a bleacher system made of prefabricated plywood ribs. Think of it like a giant 3D puzzle. We designed the internal skeleton to interlock without heavy steel framing, saving $40,000 in structural welding costs. We simulated the sightlines in 3D to guarantee that an employee sitting in the back row could see the presenter screen without obstruction. We also used the 3D model to calculate the acoustic volume, adding felt-lined cavities under the seats to absorb the echo in the cavernous warehouse.
Client Name
Nexus AI
Client Type
Commercial / Tech Startup
Location
Dogpatch, San Francisco
Project focus
Custom structural furniture and acoustics
Color Palette
Birch Plywood, Charcoal Felt, Safety Orange
Services Provided
3D Design, Structural Prototyping, Acoustic Modeling
Budget
$10,000
Duration
8 Weeks
Thoughtfully designed spaces for life
Strategic Design Interventions
We use 3D geometry to bridge the gap between architectural vision and manufacturing reality
1
Sightline Simulation
In a presentation space, visibility is currency. We placed virtual cameras at the eye level of every seat in the 3D model. We adjusted the riser heights three times during the design phase to ensure no one had a bad view, preventing the cheap seat effect.
Modular Assembly Logic
The client was worried about their lease. We designed the entire structure in 3D as a series of bolt-together modules. This means if they outgrow the office, they can unbolt the stadium seating and take it with them, turning a sunk cost into a movable asset.
2
3
Acoustic Trap Integration
Large timber structures can act like drums, amplifying foot traffic noise. We used the 3D model to identify void spaces under the tiers and filled them with dense acoustic batting in the design. This turned the seating bank into a giant sound absorber, calming the noisy warehouse environment.
