With a long-term goal of drawing more employees back to the office, Robert Half viewed the new space as a way to elevate the workplace experience based on its teams’ specific needs, while enabling better collaboration with those who work remotely. It also posed an opportunity to set design standards that could be integrated across field offices in the US and Canada.

Project goals:

• Design a place where people want to work by supporting a range of workstyles.

• Encourage spontaneous, on-site connections and prioritize employee wellbeing.

• Unlock long-term savings and efficiency through flexible design standards.

• Create a long-term procurement model that prioritizes reliability and speed to delivery.
  

Collaborative beginnings

When assembling the design team, Robert Half sought partners who could deliver an engaging workplace and future-ready standards without inflating costs. With nearly 40 years of collaboration behind them, they selected MillerKnoll as their manufacturer of choice for North America for a multi-year contract. This partnership provided the advantages of working with MillerKnoll—a consolidated design and manufacturing source supported by an integrated dealer network. Building off their 20-year relationship with Lane Office, Robert Half tapped the authorized MillerKnoll dealer for furnishings and brought in IA Interior Architects to design the space.

From the start, this unified approach allowed the company to bypass a costly multi‑vendor RFP and the coordination challenges that come with it. Relying on a single network simplified ordering, ensured consistent service, and freed the team to focus on selecting the right furnishings rather than managing vendor complexity and its impact on their budget.

“When you can take everyone who's best at their craft and collaborate in one holistic project, you get an outcome like San Ramon,” said Cindy DeFronzo, Design Director at Lane Office.

Architectural advantage

The new HQ site offered plenty of amenities while enabling Robert Half to consolidate from 250,000 square feet down to 78,000. Overlooking a scenic walking path and lake would also give employees an easy way to connect with nature during the workday.

IA Senior Designer Michelle deBrestian quickly identified the central portion of the building as the solution to a core goal: fostering spontaneous connection.

“We think a lot about how we want the space to feel and then build the design around that,” deBrestian said. “We took the underused portion of the building and turned that into more of a magnet to draw people into the center.”

The reimagined central hub—called “The Park”—supports collaboration as well as focused work, and anchors other settings that support a range of work styles. To begin identifying the right furnishings for each space, MillerKnoll and Lane Office invited Robert Half colleagues to experience their options. The team toured two meticulously pre‑staged MillerKnoll showrooms in California where they could evaluate comfort, functionality, and aesthetic fit and envision each piece in the new workplace.

Cohesion across the floorplate

Sourcing from within the MillerKnoll collective gave Robert Half access to a range of product types and price points that would satisfy each functional and aesthetic need. Upon arrival at the new HQ, guests and employees are welcomed into a bright reception area with sightlines to a light-filled café and the surrounding landscape.

A recessed nook spanning the reception area spotlights Tuxedo Sofas and Crosshatch Chairs from Geiger. Just beyond, the cafe features a variety of seating types—bar stools and lounge seating in various postures—to create inviting places to pause and gather in natural light.

Beyond the reception area and cafe, the workplace shifts to a collaboration zone fit with OE1 workstations and Passport Tables from Herman Miller and Outline Sofas from Muuto. These pieces span a wall of floor‑to‑ceiling windows, encouraging movement and providing access to natural light throughout the day. Knoll Ollo Chairs and other ergonomic seating options provide all-day support. In other settings, the team selected Muuto Outline Highback Sofas for privacy in open areas and added Knoll Antenna Workplace Planters to bring nature indoors.

Throughout the headquarters, furniture selections were standardized to establish a cohesive design language that can be replicated quickly during future projects. According to the Robert Half Real Estate Project Delivery team, the design goal for each location is to cultivate an experience for anyone who walks in the door.

Setting standards for transformation

Drawing from the breadth of the MillerKnoll collective, the team furnished 92 percent of the new San Ramon headquarters with furnishings from MillerKnoll brands. By gaining volume discounts, Robert Half saved about 12 percent on its furniture budget, reduced shipping expenses, and earned a cumulative rebate.


This unified approach through MillerKnoll delivered additional advantages: Streamlined specification tools, reduced management overhead, and the elimination of multi‑vendor coordination challenges. With consistent service and a single point of accountability, Robert Half can extend their curated standards to offices across North America—supported by a partner they trust.

3-point recap

1. A new San Ramon, California headquarters opened new opportunities for Robert Half to attract employees while better supporting in-office collaboration.

2. The design team worked with MillerKnoll to create spaces that support employee wellbeing while enhancing connections across various workplace settings.

3. Consolidating procurement with MillerKnoll streamlined the project from design development to final installation—and saved resources for Robert Half.

Additional image credits

Photo credit: Garrett Rowland
Courtesy of: IA Interior Architects