Glassdoor's Chicago office is an expression of two distinguished identities: ‘outward’ corporate and the ‘inward’ local voices. These programmatic demands shaped the design of a single floor of a renovated building in Fulton Market.

The entry zone, facing the elevators, is defined by a series of curvilinear nodes, the voids between these forms create three entries into the secure office space.

The taut forms, curved glass, and clean lines of the nodes reflect Glassdoor’s newly redefined brand identity. While specialty installations inside the nodes, such as a logo made from baseballs (i.e. Wrigley Field) or resumes of famous Chicagoans, are nods to the local culture.

Finally, brand colors are added to the curvilinear forms (inside and out) providing a sense of wayfinding. The nodes are organized to divide the floor naturally into neighborhoods of workstations and employee amenity zones.

Employees selected the neighborhoods and then chose their favorite destinations and/or representations of those neighborhoods. M-O then designed artwork that included either inspirational messaging, illustrations, dimensional elements or visuals based on these selections.

Neon-like signage, speaks to the character of North Halsted (formerly Boystown) while a hand-painted mural, by former Glassdoor employee Jill Natalino, speaks to the architectural icons of the loop.

Glassdoor Chicago 1330

Glassdoor's Chicago office is an expression of two distinguished identities: ‘outward’ corporate and the ‘inward’ local voices. Realizing these two goals meant providing an environment reflective of their millennial workforce, committed to the raw and exciting urbanism of Chicago’s Fulton Market District. At the same time it is meant to embrace their hard-earned maturity and sophistication as a company dedicated to improving the workplace through their website, a human resources platform, for staff and employers alike. These programmatic demands shaped the design of a single floor of a renovated building in Fulton Market.

The design solution interweaves the company’s inward and outward voices. The entry zone, facing the elevators, is defined by a series of curvilinear nodes, the voids between these forms create three entries into the secure office space. The taut forms, curved glass, and clean lines of the nodes reflect Glassdoor’s newly redefined brand identity. This aesthetic is the purest representation of the brand.

The form of the nodes visually leads the eye into the office. Beyond the entry lobby, the inward voice begins to express local culture as the nodes are transformed in subtle yet important ways. First, more color is added to the curvilinear forms. Second, the large glass openings in every room in the nodes is a picture window on a series of insightful Chicago graphics. The nodes are organized to divide the floor naturally into neighborhoods of workstations and employee amenity zones, including a large café.

Everywhere, the employees have ample room to take ownership of their own workstations and communal locations. Shared spaces across the office provide chalkboard walls, writable calendars, empty planters and pin-up space that inspire interaction. All surrounded on every side by floor to ceiling glass with striking views of the Loop and the entire city.

A close collaboration between Media-Objectives and architects from Valerio Dewalt Train helped create a highly dynamic yet cohesive experience. The office is a carefully balanced expression of local and corporate culture, which aims to bring both efficiency and excitement to their environment.