Wentworth's vision for the building is to completely open up the space. Gone will be the low ceilings, walls and cubicles that formerly defined the building.

“Corporate America does not want that kind of working environment anymore,” says Wentworth. “Today it's all about a more collaborative environment where people can share spaces and ideas, gathering places, communal spaces.”

Full-height glass will replace the old windows to allow for natural lighting. Bright colors will adorn what wall space exists. And the ceiling will be restructured to allow for verticality, giving an even more open feeling.

“This was all about location, vision and financial commitment,” says Wentworth. “How do we make this work for today's audience?”

And today's audience does not want to sit in a cubicle, says Beth Harmon-Vaughan, managing principal for Gensler.

“We're talking about authenticity,” says Harmon-Vaughan. “It has to appeal to many generations of workers who will be more a part of the company culture. It's also about creating the brand identity. It's part of how employees differentiate a top performing company from an average company.”

This is the second collaboration between Gensler and Wentworth Property Company.

To further open up the space, the building with have transparency in views.

“It will be a space with greater volume—opened up,” says Harmon-Vaughan. “There will be plenty of sight lines to green outdoor space, which is another big component of the social nature of these spaces. There will be very little lining the wall with private office spaces. There is no hierarchy of who goes on the upper floor. Daylight is for everyone, not just those few special people. It gives a better sense of company transparency. It's a 360-degree building, so any pedestrian experience will be a wonderful experience the way the building is designed. It will be inviting and pleasant. The tiled roof will be removed to give a more elevated feel and contemporary materials will be used inside and out.”

Plans for the outdoor spaces include a place for food trucks, bocce ball court, a barbecue area, a place for meetings or performances and possibly a basketball court.

Indoor amenities will include a cafe and a fitness center, and potentially bicycle storage and showers to meet the growing population of those cycling to work.

Harmon-Vaughan says overcoming the sedentary nature of an office job is key to employee morale and retention, and that the new space will facilitate movement.

Parking also plays a huge role in the building's design, which will be 7:1000 square feet.

Wentworth says he toured many buildings in San Francisco and incorporated ideas from around the country while contemplating the new design for 1665 W. Alameda Dr.

“It's a building that has been passed over many times,” says Wentworth. “But we have the vision for it. The numbers make sense or we wouldn't be doing it. Sometimes you just have to pony up and put in the money.”

The team plans to start the redevelopment of the 1665 Alameda project this year with availability by mid-2015.