By Deborah Thoben

Having an exciting office environment makes going to work that much easier for everyone. It also helps attract top talent and create a positive culture in a tight labor market. Here are some technology companies that continue to raise the bar on office design.

Adobe Systems  Location: San Jose, California Area: 143,000 sq. ft., partial building renovation Employees at Location: 2500

Design and architecture firm Gensler has recently completed a project with software company Adobe Systems to update part of their downtown San Jose headquarters. 143,000 square feet of the original building, first opened in 1994, has been renovated to reflect the vibrant, creative, and visual focus of the company’s brand. A space plan designed to create casual interaction, the building is “home” to 2,500 of the company’s 15,000 employees across the globe. In addition to open and flexible work spaces, the perks abound. There are several places for employees to grab a quick bite, lunch or a coffee, as well as take a cooking lesson!  There’s a fitness center complete with equipment, classes, massages and meditation pods for complete mind/body wellness. That isn’t all, Adobe offers onsite dry cleaning, vehicle maintenance, bike repair and rental, as well as childcare. Nice!1

Etsy Location: Brooklyn (DUMBO), New York Area: 200,000 sq. ft. Employees at Location: 496 

Crafty, online marketplace Etsy is all about supporting their sellers, their mission, and creating an environmentally responsible space. More than half of the artwork, furnishings and light fixtures in the new structure were supplied by Etsy sellers or locally sourced. Architectural firm Gensler has helped Etsy accomplish their vision of building an eco-friendly building. Green wall gardens on the interior, are fed by rain water from the roof. Solar panels on the building and a remote source provide 100% of the power for the building. Large, well-insulated windows provide lots of natural light and a great view of Manhattan! As for the creature comforts – snacks, meditation sessions, yoga classes, and monthly craft meetings abound. The dog-friendly environment is welcome as well! 2

Airbnb International Headquarters Location: Dublin, Ireland Area: 43,000 sq. ft. Employees at Location: 500

Airbnb teamed with Heneghan Peng Architects to create its international headquarters in Dublin, Ireland. “The Warehouse” has an open, textural, industrial feel with lots of natural wood and black steel. At the hub of the central atrium is a massive wooden, stepped seating area used for informal meetings, work, or amphitheater as needed. Quirky meeting rooms off the central atrium are styled to look like various Airbnb apartments around the world. For work, there are 29 “neighborhoods” each with a large work table, personal storage units, a standing desk, sitting desk, and a lounge area.3

Phoenix HSL Location: Sydney, Australia Area: 6997 sq. ft. Employees at Location: 40

Phoenix HSL is a young software company started in 2009. Currently made up of 40 specialists, the company provides their customers with “bespoke development based on statistics, analysis, data mining and predictive modeling.” Their new office in Sydney, Australia provides their employees with a comfortable work environment modeled after an urban, relaxed family home. The office is 6997 square feet of space designed by Australia’s PMG Group. Like many of today’s offices, it is predominantly an open environment with a variety of flexible work spaces. Employees have the option of work or stand stations and lockers for their personal things as they move about from day to day.4

1 http://www.businessinsider.com/adobe-headquarters-office-tour-2017-5

2 http://www.businessinsider.com/inside-etsys-new-perk-filled-office-2016-6

3 https://www.dezeen.com/2016/12/16/airbnb-unveils-new-headquarters-abandoned-dublin-warehouse/