As a prototype for improved work flows and renewed social relationships, Nvidia’s headquarters is designed to steer the global technology company towards its goal of maintaining a sense of community and interaction among its dynamic workforce, while upgrading to a multi-building campus.

While each of the four building’s composition of three rectilinear sides and a sweeping curve closely resembles the next, they are distinct in their varying façades and angles. Paired with the green granite fins at the buildings’ ends, these four elements are, as a formal nod to the building owner’s nautical interest, reminiscent of the bow and stern of a vessel and contribute to the streamlined, yet dynamic duality of the campus.

In plan, the headquarters resembles a pinwheel, revolving around an ensconced core that, with its controlled elevations and ground conditions, inevitably draws users to engage with it. Both core and walkway above have become an extension of the indoor office space, an ideal setting for visioning, brainstorming, and engaging with colleagues. Working within the tight parameters of the site and its parking requirements, Form4 Architecture carefully delegated landscaping to available interstitial space between the four three-story buildings and the surrounding parking area. 

Part of the architectural dominant for Nvidia was to link the buildings through bridges, named informally “the squiggle”. This feature became wildly popular as place for visioning and brainstorming. The squiggle is at the upper level with restricted access and de facto an outdoor office space where the workforce holds casual meetings and exchange vital information for the creative relevance of the company.