Designing the new Washington DC office for ONE, the international advocacy organization co-founded by U2’s Bono, was a deeply inspiring creative process. The challenge was to translate ONE’s bold mission to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa, into a physical space that embodies the organization’s message of hope, accountability, and progress.

Bono and ONE’s DC leadership had a clear vision in mind: to create a space that would visually represent a journey from darkness to light—a metaphor for hope and a better world. This powerful narrative became the cornerstone of our design approach. We aimed to craft a space that not only reflected ONE’s heroic mission but also told a story about transformation, collaboration, and the pursuit of a better future.

The 20,000-square-foot office was designed as a completely open-plan space to foster collaboration and efficiency, reflecting the organization’s core values of transparency and unity. With no private offices, the layout encourages interaction and teamwork, allowing staff to move fluidly through the space and work together to advance ONE’s goals.

To support a range of work styles and needs, the office features nearly two dozen meeting and collaborative spaces. These spaces were designed with flexibility in mind, offering the versatility needed to accommodate both large group discussions and more intimate brainstorming sessions.

The design embraces a minimalist, monochromatic aesthetic with high-contrast elements. This clean, bold approach not only reflects the urgency of ONE’s mission but also symbolizes the clarity and focus necessary to address the global issues the organization tackles. The journey from darkness to light is represented through carefully chosen materials and design features, creating a physical manifestation of hope, transformation, and progress.

Beyond the design’s visual and metaphorical elements, the goal was also to maximize efficiency. By consolidating staff and reducing space requirements by 33%, the design created a more efficient, sustainable workspace while staying true to the organization’s values.

Ultimately, the ONE office in DC serves as a vibrant reflection of the organization’s mission and culture. It’s a space that conveys their bold, youthful spirit while providing an inspiring environment for staff to continue their work toward a better world.

Project location: Washington, DC

Project size: 20,000 SF

Work previously completed by John Jessen as Principal Architect with Architect-of-Record VOA Associates (now Stantec).