Named by Fast Company as one of “The 10 Most Innovative Companies” in the robotics industry, Nuro develops and operates a fleet of self-driving vehicles that help merchants transport local goods of all kinds to customers quickly, affordably, and safely. Preparing for future growth, Nuro selected Elkus Manfredi Architects to design a phased expansion of its two-building Silicon Valley location. As a leading R&D facility, Nuro wanted its headquarters to be a manifestation of the products it makes, the communities it serves, and the company’s core values and brand. To transform two warehouses into one modern, efficient, connected R&D environment, designers focused on developing strategies to humanize the voluminous space, foster connection and innovation, and create a dynamic brand experience.
The design concept focused on an open environment with research and testing labs, fronted by rolling garage doors, located throughout the workplace adjacent to social and work areas. Inspired by the many paths the vehicles take, the team developed the organizing concept of “neighborhoods” and a “ring road” in both spaces. The road-striped ring road connects all spaces and separates the inner loop – the dense “urban center” with support spaces, meeting rooms, labs, and the building core – from the outer loop, which is more open and expansive, with airy workstation areas and roadside corner kitchenettes for casual recharging and connecting. Workrooms along the road feature house-like pitched rooflines outlined in light that bring the volume of the 15-foot-high space down to a neighborhood scale. Timeless, minimally processed materials such as wood, concrete, and woven fibers are incorporated in a natural palette of sand, white, grey, and black. Offering comfortable seating both inside and out and healthy food options, social spaces were designed as culture centers; miniature vehicles, graphic installations, and video monitors tell the brand story.
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