Building spaces for connection: Inside our Bucharest office

As we expand our teams internationally, the spaces we create play an important role in how people experience Braze from day one.

We recently opened the doors to our new Bucharest office. While new offices are always exciting, for us they represent something much bigger than a new address. They are a reflection of how we think about work, connection, and the role shared space plays in both.

At Braze, the goal is simple: Create a space where people genuinely want to spend time together.

Why physical spaces are important

Work today happens everywhere. Home offices, cafés, trains, airport lounges. That flexibility is foundational to how we work, and we embrace it. But some things still happen best in person, such as:

• The quick conversation after a meeting ends.
• The spontaneous whiteboard session.
• The moment someone overhears something and jumps in with a new idea.

These moments build trust faster, help new team members settle in, and make cross-functional collaboration easier. That is why we continue investing in physical spaces, even as work becomes more flexible, and creating environments where connection happens naturally.

A people-first approach to real estate

At Braze, we approach real estate differently. It’s not about how many desks we need. It’s about the kind of work our teams do, and how the space can help them do it together.

Our workplace strategy is built around connection. Connection to each other, connection to our environment, and connection to the vision we are working towards together. That leads us to an activity-based approach to design, where people can choose the setting that fits what they are doing at that moment.

Across our offices you will always find a balance of:

• Quiet focus spaces for heads-down work
• Open collaboration areas for quick conversations
• Hybrid-ready meeting rooms
• Community spaces that bring people together throughout the day

For every workstation, we aim to provide just as much space dedicated to collaboration. That balance is intentional. The office is not just somewhere to sit. It is somewhere to interact, share ideas, and build relationships.

Designing for how people actually work

When you walk into a Braze office, there are a few things you will notice straight away. Natural light and open neighbourhood layouts help teams feel connected while still offering choice and flexibility. Acoustic materials and focus spaces make it easy to find quiet when needed. Technology is standardized so people can plug in and get started quickly wherever they sit.

Wellbeing and inclusivity are built in from the start. Ergonomic furniture and varied seating help people tailor the environment to their needs. Greenery and natural materials create warmth and calm. Clear zoning and wayfinding make spaces intuitive and easy to navigate.

Together, these choices shape how people feel and how easily they can do their best work.

A global approach, but local identity

Every Braze office shares a common design language but each location is distinct, reflecting the people who work there and the city it calls home.

Bucharest is a great example. The space blends our global design approach with local materials, artwork, and cultural touches. It feels unmistakably Braze while also feeling unmistakably Bucharest. That balance matters because connection to place is just as important as connection to colleagues.

We bring this to life through partnerships with local artists who create murals unique to each office. In Bucharest, the artwork is inspired by the traditional Romanian Ie pattern, often compared to tartan in Scotland. The geometric motif is instantly recognisable across the region and has long been used as a symbol of Romanian heritage. Incorporating it into the space was a way to celebrate local culture and create something meaningful for the team who call the office home.

The heart of the office

At the centre of every Braze workplace is the community hub. It combines café, gathering, and event space into one flexible environment. On a typical day it is where people grab coffee, eat lunch, and catch up. At other times it becomes a town hall space, a celebration venue, or a place to host external events. Designing flexible spaces like this helps the office adapt to the rhythms of the company. It supports both everyday moments and big milestones.

In Bucharest, we named our hub Vatra. In Romanian, the word refers to a hearth or fireplace. It represents the heart of the home, a place of warmth and gathering. It is also used in the phrase vatra satului, meaning the center of a village.

It felt like the perfect name for the space. A place where people naturally come together, where conversations start, and where the culture of the office takes shape.

Final thoughts

Opening the Bucharest office was a milestone for our team in the EMEA region and for Braze as a whole. It represents growth, investment, and confidence in the future.

More importantly, it represents our belief that shared space still plays a meaningful role in how we work and make an impact as a team.

We build offices to bring people together. We design them to support impactful work and real connection. And we hope they become places where our teams feel comfortable, inspired, and proud to shape the future of customer engagement, together.

We’re growing globally—find out more about our culture and open roles here.