One Workplace Celebrates 100 Years
SANTA CLARA, CA – January 2025 – This year, One Workplace, a national leader in providing innovative workplace solutions to corporate, healthcare, education, and government customers, proudly celebrates 100 years in business. Rooted in a legacy of partnership and dynamic service, the family-owned company is returning to a transformative question that originated with the company’s roots as Lindsay’s Bookstore in 1925: “What Else?”
This simple yet profound question reflects the spirit of Elmo Ferrari, who in 1942, delivered packages on his bicycle in downtown San Jose and always asked customers, “What else can I help you with today?” This ethos of partnership and service propelled the company from its humble beginnings into a national leader focused on helping its clients solve complex challenges, combining furniture, technology, construction, and services to create environments that give organizations the power to thrive.
Today, One Workplace has expanded its presence throughout Northern California and the Pacific Northwest and provides services to companies in all 50 states. “We’ve grown a lot since 1925,” says Dave Ferrari, President of One Workplace. “While our business and the way we work have evolved, our values and work ethic remained constant. Across industries, our customers share a common need to adapt quickly. Our long history of understanding unique challenges and bringing people and solutions together is in our DNA, setting the tone for the next 100 years.”
This unwavering commitment to helping customers solve challenges is reflected in more than the One Workplace ethos. A century of adaptation and growth has led to an integrated model and suite of services designed to give organizations tools to grow and environments designed to bring out their best. It has also cemented an enduring partnership with Steelcase, the world’s leading furniture manufacturer.
According to Mark Ferrari, Chairman of the Board, One Workplace is just getting started. “From selling office supplies at Curtis Lindsay’s bookstore to acquiring Rucker Fuller, a San Francisco office furniture company, and rebranding as One Workplace, we’ve learned firsthand the value of partnership. Today, our “What Else” ethos drives us to help customers achieve even more.”
As the market continues to evolve, One Workplace ensures its foundational values are passed to the next generation. Elmo’s children – Mark, Dave, and Julie – maintain active roles in the company, with many of Elmo’s grandchildren contributing across the organization, helping to shape its future.
“We’re fortunate to have an incredible team that listens to our clients and adapt to meet their needs,” says Julie Jarvis, Vice President of One Workplace. “Our values are our identity, and we make sure those values are reflected in the community here that has supported us all these years. As we celebrate our history, we remain focused on the people and places that made it possible.”
Stability, quality, and delivering the same values that have defined One Workplace for over a century represent a strong history but also the platform for future growth – both for One Workplace and its customers.
About One Workplace
One Workplace creates places that inspire people and transform organizations, helping companies bring their brands and cultures to life. As the West Coast’s leading workplace performance provider, One Workplace brings construction, technology, furniture and services together under one roof to create better spaces, build powerful brands, and empower stronger cultures from the inside out. For more information, visit www.OneWorkplace.com