Where was Office Space filmed?
1999
City Locations
Austin, Dallas (USA)
Location Types
Apartment, House, Buildings/Offices, Clubs/Bars
Location Styles
Americana/Anywhere, Manufactured Home, Modern Building, Office Building Style
About Office Space
Mike Judge's debut into live-action features, which draws its inspiration from his animated short sharing the same title, successfully incorporates witty critiques of corporate culture into its amiable and wandering narrative. Office Space is a 1999 comedy film starring Ron Livingston, David Herman, Ajay Naidu, Gary Cole, Alexandra Wentworth, and Jennifer Aniston.
The film chronicles the journey of Peter Gibbons (Livingston) as he endures the relentless humiliation inflicted upon him by his boss, Bill Lumbergh (Cole), in his soul-crushing position at Initech. When Peter is sent to see an occupational hypnotherapist to relieve stress, she dies while putting him into a trance, leaving him with a newfound zest for life and freedom from work-related anxieties. With a newfound sense of bravery, Peter joins forces with his colleagues Samir (Naidu) and Michael Bolton (Herman) to execute a bold and audacious scheme that promises wealth and prosperity. Along the way, they learn invaluable lessons about the true meaning of friendship and the pursuit of their dreams.
Office Space has become a cult classic over the years since its release, achieving strong home video sales while being referenced in numerous other works such as South Park and Family Guy. Comedy Central first aired Office Space in 2001, attracting 1.4 million viewers. By 2003, the network had shown the film an additional 35 times. These frequent broadcasts contributed significantly to the development of the film's cult status.
Office Space Locations
Office Space was shot on location in Texas, mostly in the cities of Dallas and Austin. While the majority of the scenes were filmed in Austin, there were shots taken in both cities to give the movie an authentic look and feel.
The backdrop of the Austin region provides an array of views that capture the essence of Office Space. From vibrant cityscapes to quaint suburban neighborhoods, all these areas are tied together by unique landmarks such as Alligator Grill—where Joanna (Aniston) works—or Trails of Walnut Creek Apartments where Peter and Lawrence (Diedrich Bader) live.
A trip to these locations for Office Space would be an interesting experience for any fan of the movie. Not only would fans get up close to iconic settings, but they would also have a chance to explore the city itself and savor some of its gems like historic churches, parks, and monuments that appear throughout the movie. With so much history and culture on offer, seeing it firsthand would be well worth your time.
Peter drives to work scene in Office Space
4120 Freidrich Ln, Austin, TX 78744, USA
The film opens with a scene of Peter embarking on his daily commute to the Initech office. Peter is a beleaguered software engineer navigating the mundane realities of cubicle life at work. His daily grind includes a frustrating commute, annoying coworkers, an uninspiring boss, and suspicions about his girlfriend's fidelity. The only saving grace in his life comes from his two office friends, Samir and the unfortunately named Michael Bolton.
The exterior scenes of the Initech office building were filmed at 4120 Freidrich Lane in Austin, Texas. This location also features the drainage ditch that Bob, Michael, Peter, and Samir traverse on their way back from lunch, situated just southwest of the building. The building serves as an office space and has maintained its appearance from the movie, making it a great spot for fans to visit.
For those looking to make their own pilgrimage to Austin's 4120 Freidrich Ln, it is located off Interstate 35 Northbound. This location is found about five miles south of the city center.
Austin Filming Locations Directory
Hypnotherapy session scene in Office Space
Walters Southwest, 1010 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78701, USA
Peter finally departs from his office and hesitantly accompanies his girlfriend, Anne (Alexandra Wentworth), to a meeting with an occupational hypnotherapist. Anne hopes this professional might assist Peter in adopting a more optimistic perspective on life. The hypnotherapist successfully induces a state of deep relaxation in Peter, but tragically, he experiences a fatal heart attack before he can bring Peter back to his normal state.
The meeting with an occupational hypnotherapist occurred at Walters Southwest, located at 1010 W Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, Austin. If you want to visit this location today, the building is easily accessible by car or public transportation; if driving, it’s located just off I-35 near downtown Austin and has plenty of parking nearby.
Peter ignores his work while sleeping scene in Office Space
Great Hills, 10610 Morado Cir, Austin, TX 78759, USA
Peter, fed up with his monotonous office life, boldly decides to disregard his alarm clock and skip work on both Saturday and Sunday, despite being asked to come in. He sleeps through the 17 messages left by his overbearing boss, Lumbergh.
Adding to his defiance, he fields an angry phone call from his girlfriend Anne, who demands an explanation for his unusual behavior. Unfazed, Peter hangs up on her, prompting Anne to end their relationship while admitting to her infidelity. Following this upheaval, Peter returns to bed and spends the rest of his day in solitude.
The scenes featuring Peter's apartment were filmed at Great Hills, located on Morado Circuit in Austin, Texas. Since the mid-1970s, Great Hills has evolved into a sprawling region of gated communities and upscale apartments tucked away in the hillsides. The apartment complex is still operational today.
To get to this destination from downtown Austin, you can take TX-1 Loop N by private car, which should take about 20 minutes. Another option is to catch a bus from downtown Austin, but be aware that the journey could take around an hour.
Access Austin Film Shoot Locations
Chotchkie's restaurant scene in Office Space
Baker St. Pub & Grill, 3003 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704, USA
Peter discovers a captivating new love interest in Joanna, a waitress at Chotchkie's. However, she faces her own version of a demanding boss at Chotchkie's, Stan (Mike Judge). Stan expresses his disapproval about Joanna only wearing the minimum amount of "flair" (decorative buttons and accessories) on her work uniform. He suggests that the "flair" is a chance for her to express herself, yet she seems content with merely meeting the bare minimum requirement of 15 pieces.
The interior sequences of Chotchkie's were filmed at Baker St. Pub & Grill, situated at 3003 S Lamar Boulevard, Austin. Since the filming, the pub has undergone several renovations, making it hard to recognize from the film. However, fans can still visit this spot to enjoy good food and service. It has evolved into a popular location in South Austin for food, beer, and live music.
To get to Baker St. Pub & Grill, visitors can take South Lamar Boulevard and drive south until they reach number 3003 on their left side. The journey from downtown Austin will take approximately 10-15 minutes.
Austin Production Spaces Finder
Tom's house scene in Office Space
1603 Glen Rose Chase, Pflugerville, TX 78660, USA
Peter and his colleagues celebrate Tom's (Richard Riehle) accident settlement. Tom, who has been working at Initech for 30 years, shares his feelings about his job with Peter. He admits that he used to despise his job and it caused him significant depression. However, unlike Peter, he didn't vocalize his complaints as much. The irony of Tom's admission after such a long tenure at Initech is not lost on the viewers.
The particular scene was filmed at 1603 Glen Rose Chase in Pflugerville, a location that was constructed shortly before the commencement of the movie's production. The water tower visible from the backyard predates the neighborhood itself. It's crucial to understand that this location is privately owned and may not be accessible to fans or casual spectators.
To get to this location, you’ll need to drive roughly 15 miles north from downtown Austin, which will take around 20 minutes in light traffic.
Printer scene in Office Space
The Domain, 11410 Century Oaks Terrace, Austin, TX 78758, USA
The printer-destroying scene remains one of the most memorable in the film. Peter, Samir, and Milton (Stephen Root), frustrated with their mundane office life, take a defective printer to an open field. In a cathartic release, they proceed to destroy it with a baseball bat. The scene has become emblematic of office workers' frustrations with troublesome equipment and the quotidian nature of office work.
This iconic scene was filmed in Austin, Texas. The specific location, once a grassy field, has since been developed into one of Austin's most popular shopping centers, The Domain. Although the original scenery of the scene has changed significantly, the location still holds a special place in the hearts of Office Space fans and anyone who has ever grappled with a stubborn piece of office equipment.
Please note that the precise location has now transformed into a vibrant shopping center. As a result, the iconic scenery depicted in the movie may no longer be easily recognizable. Nevertheless, if you want to visit, it remains conveniently accessible via TX-1 Loop N, with parking facilities also provided.
San Antonio Video Shoot Locations Exploration
Conclusion
Office Space is an incredibly authentic representation of the struggles of modern office life. It captures the mundaneness of the corporate world and makes it funny for viewers. The actors' performances were spot on, with each one bringing their respective characters to life in a hilariously accurate way.
The script was tightly written with a clever mix of dialogue and physical comedy that kept viewers engaged and laughing throughout. Judge's concept for Office Space was highly original and well executed, giving insight into the frustrations of corporate bureaucracy without veering into preaching or overdoing its satire.
Office Space has become a cult classic since its release 20 years ago, so if you’re planning an adventure around Austin, it’s well worth your time checking out some of these iconic filming locations for yourself.