January 2, 2026

Ai2 settles into its new home

Photos by Kevin Scott [enlarge]

Acoustic elements float, leaving the mass timber structure visible.

The Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (Ai2) has moved into its new headquarters at Northlake Commons at 3800 Latona Ave. N.E. in Wallingford.

Perkins&Will was the architect for Ai2's space, and GLY Construction was the contractor.

The Perkins&Will team translated traditional workplace needs into a design that feels more like home. The intention is not only to inspire people to return to work, but to collaborate and to innovate together.

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Perkins&Will designed workspace elements to sit inside the building’s structural frame and be open to views outside.

Another design focus was honoring the mass-timber building. Perkins&Will did this by bringing the interior elements well inside the structure. Meeting rooms, workspaces and “Zoom rooms” float within the large, structural spaces. This approach provides flexibility for future uses and reconfiguration. It also opens more workspaces to daylight and views, and to human interaction.

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Corridors along reconfigurable spaces including “Zoom rooms” to accommodate hybrid working.

Acoustic treatments float as well, helping to manage sound in the large timber-framed spaces. And up there with acoustic panels, the suspended lighting fixtures are dimmed to 65% to reduce glare and to allow floor and table lamps to lead the residential ambiance.

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Gathering spaces were designed to compete with the comforts of working from home.

The way spaces are named demonstrates this aspiration to be like home. A gathering space called The Hearth showcases views and provides a place for people to come together for shared meals, presentations and conversation. There's The Living Room that is open to guests as well as employees. It has nooks, a fireplace and handwoven rugs. The Neighborhoods are clusters of workstations and private offices where employees can focus without distraction. Meeting Spaces come in a variety of sizes, with flexible wall systems that allow for easy reconfiguration. And there are Green Spaces such as two enclosed bridges that connect the building's east and west sides and divide “front and back yards.”

Members of the tenant improvement project team include: Seneca Group, owner representative; Säzän Group, MEP; Coughlin Porter Lundeen and DCI Engineers, structural; Holaday-Parks, mechanical; Hargis and Teknon, IT/security; Cochran and Dimensional, AV; Sequoyah, electrical; Stantec, acoustic; Porter, furniture; Botanical Designs, slantings; and HessCallahanGrey Group, property management.

Northlake Commons was designed by Seattle-based architect Weber Thompson and built by general contractor Swinerton.

Ai2's lease at Northlake Commons was announced in the DJC in July 2024: https://tinyurl.com/DJC07222024Ai2