PagerDuty
General Contractor — Vector Mais
Project — Openbook
Project Management — P4 Project Management
Area — 430m²
Location — Lisbon
Founded in 2009 in Canada, PagerDuty offers innovative solutions for IT incident management. For its Lisbon office, the San Francisco-based tech company selected Vector Mais to build its workspace in the Allo building in Alcântara. The office, designed by Openbook, is divided into two distinct areas: one for social interaction and another for work.
In the social area, the design prioritizes natural light and breathtaking views of the Tagus River and the bridge. A flowing metal structure guides visitors from the entrance to the kitchen while simultaneously opening up the vistas to the social area and the outdoor scenery. Features such as red-painted exposed ceilings, green metal mesh coverings, circular carpentry, and a thoughtful selection of materials - including wood-toned vinyl flooring and terrazzo ceramic - give this space a unique character.
In contrast, the work area is centered around a core space with clusters of desks, surrounded by meeting rooms, quiet zones, and collaborative spaces. The exposed ceiling reveals technical installations that also function as acoustic containment elements. A high counter, complemented by a flowing metal structure and black-framed partitions, along with a creative arrangement of vinyl flooring and carpet, complete this workspace.
Maria Ana Botelho
Architect | Openbook
“The scale of the project itself did not pose major challenges; however, the combination of a tight deadline and the aspiration for custom-made elements proved quite demanding. In this context, having a team like Vector Mais—who are highly experienced in this type of project and willing to take risks—was essential. Their ability to rapidly test and implement solutions was crucial throughout the process. This project was characterized by an intense pace, involving multiple teams, a wide variety of materials and equipment, and specialized carpentry and metalwork. The working dynamic between Openbook and Vector Mais has been honed over several collaborative projects, allowing us to approach this build with a ‘make it happen’ mindset, which was critical to delivering the final result to the client.”
How was the development of this project?
The design approach for PagerDuty’s new headquarters in Portugal comprised two key phases. The first phase focused primarily on functionality: designing the space itself.
As a company with teams in various locations and remote employees, we believe that the headquarters should serve as a gathering point for staff based in Lisbon and those visiting from abroad. The exchange of ideas, experiences, and knowledge necessitates an appropriately designed space, as a company’s identity is forged through these interactions. That’s why the entrance opens into a ‘plaza’ that provides views of the Tagus River, the bridge, and Cristo Rei. The transition between the plaza and the open space is marked by visual connections through the meeting room. By carefully organizing the layout and incorporating partitioning elements such as glass dividers, we ensured that the entire office enjoyed the scenic backdrop of the Tagus estuary and the bridge.
The second phase of the project emerged gradually from the initial design sketches. Still, it became more pronounced as we explored materials and creative solutions that reflect the company’s identity while incorporating elements that resonate with the local character. We integrated features that highlight the essence of the location, such as terrazzo flooring and metal ceilings that reference Alcântara’s industrial history, as well as the use of red, inspired by the cranes in Lisbon’s port and the bridge.
How did you translate PagerDuty’s needs into the workspace?
The Alcântara office is one of the first spaces designed from the ground up by PagerDuty, demonstrating the company’s high expectations for a customized environment. Throughout our discussions with the international team, creating a versatile space was always a priority—one that could accommodate corporate gatherings, informal work, and collaboration.
The office’s location was crucial in shaping the spatial organization. The 180-degree view naturally determined the placement of the entrance plaza, from which the rest of the spaces organically unfolded. The meeting room serves as a physical boundary between the two main areas of the office—public and private. Three glass façades maintain visual continuity with the Tagus estuary, enhancing the overall scenic experience. The color palette used in the various informal areas reflects the chromatic identity of PagerDuty’s offices worldwide.
