Hyphn Portland Experience Center

Transforming a historic Pearl District warehouse into a flexible, hybrid-ready Experience Center that embodies Hyphn’s culture, values, and vision for the future of work.

Services Provided

Project Details

Introduction

Hyphn sought to create a new headquarters and Experience Center that demonstrated both the company’s workplace expertise and its reimagined vision for the future of work. Coming out of the pandemic and committed to reinvesting in downtown Portland, Hyphn needed a space that supported hybrid work, encouraged connection, and showcased the integrated services the company provides to clients. The century-old Fisk Building, rich with natural light, character, and history, became the foundation for this transformation.

Objectives & Scope

Create a flexible, activity-based workplace supporting hybrid work modes
Increase employee connection, comfort, and autonomy (“earn the commute”)
Seamlessly integrate intuitive, frictionless technology for meetings and daily work
Honor the historic architecture while modernizing functionality
Embed Hyphn’s core values into the environment
Implement Empathic Building for wayfinding, desk/room booking, and workplace analytics

Approach

Hyphn applied its own workplace strategy methodology internally, engaging employees through surveys, pilots, and testing to understand needs across teams. The “Return to Better” task force synthesized data to shape a holistic hybrid workplace strategy. The design team prioritized comfort, variety, acoustical solutions, and seamless technology, while planning the Experience Center as a living demonstration of Hyphn’s integrated services: strategy, technology, furniture, architectural walls, and change management.

Outcomes & Impact

The Portland Experience Center has become a vibrant hub for collaboration, innovation, and community. Post-occupancy data shows increased employee connection—up 9% from Hyphn’s previous office—and strong adoption of hybrid work, with 44% of employees choosing to come into the office three or more days per week despite a two-day guideline. Technology friction has dramatically decreased, and the space now serves as both a workplace and a client-facing experience environment that models best practices in hybrid design.

Key Takeaways

Hybrid workplaces thrive when employees have meaningful choice and control
Integrated strategy, furniture, and technology produces cohesive, intuitive environments
Post-occupancy measurement is essential for ongoing success and continuous improvement
IIDA Oregon 2025 Design Excellence award winner

“We built the Portland Experience Center to reflect our values, support our people, and demonstrate what a flexible, people-centered workplace can be. The result is a space that our teams love—and one that continues to evolve through data, feedback, and innovation.”

Hyphn Leadership Team