Cognite

When Cognite relocated its headquarters from Oslo to Hayden Ferry Lakeside in downtown Tempe, Arizona, it set out to trade a familiar Scandinavian aesthetic for something warmer, more colorful, and more memorable. Working with an efficient mindset and accelerated timeline, PDO focused improvements where they mattered most: the lobby, boardrooms, and break room. The result is a much improved layout aligned with collaboration and client interaction, and connected by warm woods and soft finishes that feel elevated yet comfortable. It’s a flexible, strategic space designed to make people want to come into the office.

PDO created a hospitality-inspired headquarters with an environment that feels rich and unexpected, drawing inspiration from luxury hotels while giving Cognite an identity all its own. A bold palette of deep navy, olive green, emerald, black, and champagne-bronze sets a timeless, sophisticated mood, while patterns are repeated in multiple materials to carry one continuous story throughout. The rich, moody lobby makes an immediate impression upon arrival with distinctive lighting, illuminated signage, and a curved reception desk inspired by the building’s architecture. The office’s strong sense of place is rooted in its position on Tempe Town Lake, embraced through floor-to-ceiling glass and lake-view sight lines.