As the main building of the Matrix Innovation Center, Matrix ONE serves as the social hub of the campus. A key element of MVRDV’s design is the large “social staircase” immediately next to the main entrance on the building’s southern corner, which is conceptualised as a continuation of the zig-zagging paths that are found throughout the campus. With tribune-style seating for presentations, tables for informal meetings, and coffee stations, these stairs bring together workers from different industries, allowing them to mingle and share ideas. The interior design for this space, developed by MVRDV in collaboration with up architecture, includes multiple lush green walls that are visible through the glass façade, while soft felt finishes elsewhere dramatically reduce sound reverberation, lending the social spaces a calm and intimate atmosphere.

Matrix ONE also encourages users to lead a healthy lifestyle: the location of the social stair encourages people to use the stairs instead of the elevators, which are found deeper inside the building, accessed via the atrium. On the rear of the building, a secondary entrance includes access to a bicycle parking facility that is directly accessible and visible from the atrium, encouraging those who work in the building to cycle instead of driving. As a result of all of these sustainability and health measures, the building has received BREEAM-Excellent certification.