KQED Headquarters Renovation

The transformation of KQED's San Francisco-based headquarters reimagines the future of public media with a physical expression of KQED’s ethos - to Inform, Involve, and Inspire. It is a place of civic dialogue and spirited debates; a vibrant, collaborative workplace that sparks fresh discoveries and creative, courageous storytelling; a robust, flexible broadcast space that can rapidly adapt to ever-changing means of audience engagement. This renovation is equally inclusive, community-minded and sustainable as it is ambitious.

The new corner entry shifts KQED's front door to a more prominent neighborhood location, where a lifted, diaphanous curtain wall invites the community in. New program spaces draw community collaborators through all levels of the building, with opportunities to participate in public events, co-create content, utilize media-making tools, and share meeting spaces as mission-aligned partners.

Dynamic daylight and an active central core connect public space to workplace. Graphics, color, moments of interaction, and intimate perimeter views foreground KQED culture, community, and wellness as key elements of the reimagined HQ experience. Modernized, newsroom and production spaces are centralized and visible, enabling new multi-disciplinary workflows with KQED content front and center.

A new roof terrace level marks the top of the reimagined corner with an outdoor respite for staff and gathering space for events. Expansive views to the surrounding Bay Area offer moments to look back out and look forward, celebrating and strengthening the new connections, community, and content created in KQED's new home.