LinkedIn took over a 26-story San Francisco skyscraper, and it's unlike anything else we've seen

Melia Robinson
Linkedin sign outdoorTony Chung, LinkedIn

In the ever-competitive tech landscape, a tricked-out office can be key for attracting talent.

LinkedIn has it covered. The professional social network, which Microsoft snapped up for a whopping $US26.2 billion in 2016, leases a new 26-story skyscraper in San Francisco’s South of Market neighbourhood. It has art installations on every floor, a massage room, a band room, a rooftop patio, and sweeping city views.

Business Insider got the chance to tour the offices at 222 Second Street. Take a look.

San Franciscans might pass the LinkedIn skyscraper on their commute and not think much of it. Formed from two cubes of grey glass, the tower is a bit boring from the outside.

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Walk inside and the lobby will transport you to a modern art museum.

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The ground floor has dozens of chairs gathered around long wooden tables, three pieces of Frank Stella artwork, and a trendy Equator Coffee bar. It's a public space, open to anybody.

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Visitors use tablets to sign in at the reception desk.

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But you'll need to an employee's badge to access the coolest amenities on site, like the gym. Instructors hold classes throughout the day, so workers can fit in exercise whenever.

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The fitness center includes a small spa, where massages are free and tips are welcomed.

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An on-site cafeteria is another nice perk (though not uncommon for big tech companies).

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The menu rotates daily, but employees can always find salad, sandwiches, stir fry, and a dessert. These lemon tarts made in-house looked spiffy and tasted delicious.

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There are also three varieties of kombucha on tap.

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Plenty of employees take their breakfast, lunch, or dinner onto a patio on the 18th floor.

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It offers breathtaking views. (That's Salesforce's $1 billion skyscraper going up in the background. It will be the tallest building in San Francisco upon completion in 2017.)

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Employees rock out in the music room, though you wouldn't know it from the next room. They plug their instruments into a system that plays their music through headphones.

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The company has a robust music program. Employees give lessons on piano, guitar, and drums, while employee-led bands play corporate events.

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A hallway on the second floor offers a reminder that work isn't everything.

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But the letters become unrecognizable as you move down the hall.

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LinkedIn brought several offices formerly spread across San Francisco into this building. It's home to thousands of employees who run the gamut from engineering to customer support.

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The new office brings together employees who might otherwise never meet -- if only for an elevator ride. LinkedIn leases all 26 floors, but only occupies 19 of them.

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In April, the company released plans to develop a new headquarters in Mountain View, California. LinkedIn bought the large swath of land from Google in 2015.

Each floor has a theme inspired by San Francisco, including movies filmed in the city, landmarks, neighbourhoods, and famous dwellers. The conference rooms are named accordingly.

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The conference rooms are as tech-savvy as the people who occupy them. Employees can reserve the rooms online or check availability on the tablet affixed to every door.

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Most floors are organised by team, based on the products they work on.

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Food is never far. There are kitchenettes stocked with fresh fruit on every floor.

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This fancy espresso machine beats the Keurig found in most offices.

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Each floor has something called a 'staff wall' that encourages employees to interact with one another via the installation. This one lets them fill in words like Mad Libs.

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This map on another floor invites employees to share where they have travelled.

Tony Chung/LinkedIn

At the Silent Disco, employees can choose a song from the music library, slip on headphones, and groove together without disrupting the whole office.

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A lending library offers up books that anyone can borrow.

Tony Chung/LinkedIn

A wall inspired by the 'Choose Your Own Adventure' books challenges employees to make their way through a complicated maze. It's a little dizzying to do.

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This wall just dispenses fortune cookies.

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It seems there's something fun to do around every corner.

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It's unknown how much LinkedIn shells out for all 450,000 square feet of office space in the building. Salesforce will pay $560 million to lease 30 floors in a skyscraper down the street.

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Source: Business Insider

It's one over-the-top place to go to work.

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