Tour notes - Pixar part 2: The Architecture

After signing in and getting a special sticker, Randy explained a bit about the architecture of Pixar. As it turns out, the architecture meant a lot more than just wood and bricks. The building was designed a little after Steve Jobs (may he never read this post) arrived. Although Steve is very creative in his own right, he recognized that Pixar already had a good thing going, and he didn't want to mess with success. He said he didn't want to paint the picture, but he thought he could build the frame. And so he went to work designing the new building, the "frame."

The building itself is very well thought-out. It's a brick building with a very large common area in the middle. The ceiling is tiered so you if you look up you see wood but if you look forward you can see sky. There was something symbolic about all of that, but it escapes me now. I can't remember seeing another place that was this functionally beautiful. It was impressive because it just felt right, not intimidating, just comfortable.

Of course, there's a big giant lamp out in front, which is great because that's pretty much the only place where cameras are allowed. So we took a group photo out by the lamp, and I then promptly forgot who has the photo.