You might very well be right in that it's simply an aesthetic association, but I, myself, have a minimalist aesthetic and in my own spaces always try to inject some organic life into it. Minimalism on its own can be too sterile.
In the above picture, it's not really the minimalism that makes it feel like an office building, but things like the striped tile on the floor instead of a continuous surface, the very office like make up of the furniture vs something just as modern and clean lined but inviting, and the horizontal fluorescent lighting that is recessed vs having it hang down in some sort of interesting pattern that suggest some human creativity was at play. There's no joy or life in the above space.
Like I said, it's still a great looking space, a cool building and I'm angry I didn't buy here in march of '09 when I almost did and backed out.