When an architecture firm’s client is a company that plays an essential part in the world of rock 'n' roll music, it’s not surprising that the office design is more than a tad rebellious.

Fender Musical Instruments — maker of the iconic Telecaster and Stratocaster-model electric guitars used in thousands of rock recordings — is building a new headquarters office at Red Development’s PV mixed-use project in Phoenix.

The 80,000-square-foot office space crafted by the architecture firm SmithGroup plans to combine some of the latest buzzwords in workspace design along with features that don’t typically conform with the corporate world.

The space will “celebrate a team-centric work style that fosters innovation" with “unassigned desks with open and enclosed collaboration spaces," SmithGroup said in an emailed statement.

The exterior’s color is a combination of white and gray with a nod to midcentury modern building styles, but a more rambunctious design flair includes a “kaboom room where they blow up amps” and a studio where new guitar models are created, SmithGroup said. The kaboom room is expected to be used for testing amps at their highest volumes.

Fender’s product lineup includes amplifiers, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, pedals and speakers. The roster of guitarists who played Fender instruments is a who's who of rock 'n' roll: Buddy Holly, George Harrison and Jimi Hendrix have all slung a Fender over their shoulders.

SmithGroup plans to add a two-story “entry experience” to the Fender office front entrance. The office also is expected to have an employee store, a sound room and a distribution warehouse.

PV is a conversion of the former Paradise Valley Mall into a collection of retail, restaurants, entertainment venues and offices. The first phase of PV, a 400-unit luxury multifamily component developed by StreetLights Residential, is expected to open later this year.

Fender plans to occupy its new office in fall 2025, moving from its current headquarters at 17600 N. Perimeter Drive in Scottsdale, Arizona. Fender also maintains a second headquarters at 1575 N. Gower St. in Los Angeles.

Gary Gregg and Eric Walker at Cresa represented Fender on the lease. Ryan Timpani and Brett Thompson at JLL represented Red Development. Mike Kallner at Red Development heads the firm’s leasing efforts. Layton Construction is the general contractor for Fender’s office.