Inside Allsteel’s Living Laboratory: How the D.C. Design Lab Reimagines the Future of the Workplace

As the workplace continues to evolve, design innovation now happens at the intersection of research, collaboration, and lived experience. That’s the premise behind Allsteel’s new Design Lab in Washington, D.C., a space created with Gensler D.C. that redefines what a showroom can be—and what a workplace should become.

Rather than a static display, the Design Lab functions as a living, breathing prototype—a hands-on environment that invites architects, designers, and clients to co-create, test, and iterate in real time. Guided by Allsteel’s “Living in Beta” philosophy, the Lab is continually refreshed with new products, materials, and digital tools, underscoring the value of adaptability in today’s workplaces.

Created in partnership with Gensler D.C., the Design Lab highlights Allsteel’s deep investment in the D.C. market, bringing together physical space, research, and human-centered design to support meaningful workplace transformation. The project also represents a collaboration between Gensler and the Allsteel Workplace Advisory (WPA) team, combining Gensler’s design expertise with WPA’s workplace research to explore how intentional design can shape behavior and culture.

“The Allsteel D.C. Design Lab shows how intentional design can enable smarter work styles and authentic human interaction,” said Jason Heredia, Allsteel Vice President of Marketing and Client Engagement. “It’s not just a space, it’s a working laboratory where we continuously test ideas, learn from our clients, and evolve. This is what it means to live in beta: to listen, adapt, and lead through intentional design.”

Designing with Intentionality

A departure from the traditional showroom model, the D.C. Design Lab supports six foundational workplace behaviors—Focus, Mentorship, Innovation, Collaboration, Socialization, and Learning—reflecting the brand’s broader Intentional Office framework. Through a series of adaptable zones, visitors can explore how space planning, lighting, acoustics, and furniture systems respond to varying work modes and cultural needs.

Key environments such as the Co-Solutioning Zones and Social Crossroads + All-Day Café encourage interaction and reflection, while leadership offices demonstrate how different management styles can shape spatial strategies—from private focus spaces to flexible hybrid configurations.

Social Crossroads + All-Day Café

Located at the front of the lab, this welcoming zone fosters casual interaction and transitions between work modes. Visitors can decompress between meetings, engage in conversation, or participate in impromptu gatherings. The adjoining café continues this atmosphere of collaboration and connection through food, hospitality, and community engagement.

Today’s Boardroom Experience

This light-filled zone reimagines the modern boardroom as a destination for hybrid collaboration and purposeful discussion. A pre-function area acts as a transition zone supporting meeting prep, informal gatherings, and post-meeting decompression, enhancing experiences for both in-person and remote participants.

Designing for Impact: Sustainability in Real Time

Sustainability is not a backdrop here—it’s part of the dialogue. A dedicated installation on circularity and material transparency invites visitors to engage with responsible design and material health in real time, reinforcing Allsteel’s commitment to purposeful, planet-conscious design. 

Co-Solutioning Zones as Research

The partnership between Allsteel and Gensler underscores how research-driven, human-centered design can redefine the modern workplace. At the heart of the lab, the Co-Solutioning Zones embody Allsteel’s collaborative planning approach. Here, clients can experiment with mockups, workstation layouts, and digital planning tools, allowing for iterative decision-making and greater confidence in specification choices.

360° Leadership: Redefining Private Offices

The lab presents a range of private offices designed around different leadership styles and work modes:

• The Creator – supports deep focus and strategic planning.
• The Conductor – fosters in-person interaction and team mentorship.
• The Coach – encourages one-on-one development conversations.
• The Commuter – accommodates hybrid-friendly, drop-in use.

Each office integrates flexibility, hospitality, and digital equity to support individual and team success.

Materials Lab + Digital Theatre

The Materials Lab serves as a resource for real-time design, where clients can explore finishes, test combinations, and make confident selections with digital support. Adjacent to it, the Digital Theatre provides a flexible venue for presentations, learning sessions, and social engagements—all styled in a color palette aligned with D.C.’s refined aesthetic.

“Creating the D.C. Design Lab alongside Allsteel was an opportunity to respond directly to the unique pace and culture of Washington’s design community,” said Emma Chang, Principal and Design Director at Gensler. “Every space is intentionally crafted to support collaboration, innovation, and digital equity—hallmarks of the region’s forward-thinking workplace strategies. The expansive windows and grand ceiling gestures create a striking street presence while welcoming abundant daylight inside, fostering an inviting environment where the design community can gather and imagine the future of office space.”

By blurring the lines between research, design, and experience, the D.C. Design Lab provides a blueprint for experimentation—empowering designers to reimagine the workplace as an ever-evolving ecosystem built for people, purpose, and progress.

The Allsteel D.C. Design Lab is now open by appointment at 1050 17th Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 20036.