The 12 Coolest Offices in Chicago 2019

By Jackie Bender
What makes an office cool? We use the term as a catchall for a well-designed workplace that's a good representation of the business and allows employees to work comfortably and efficiently. After that, opinions diverge. Should they be homelike, with lounges, table tennis and the like? (No, says judge Richard Wright of Wright Auctions.) Wright, along with interior designer Michael Del Piero and Crain's assistant managing editor Jan Parr (a longtime design magazine editor in a previous life), chose 12 offices out of 78 submissions for this year's crop of Coolest.

Winner's Circle

Knoll

Fulton Market / Furniture, textiles and design

Knoll's new three-story space showcases a colorful mix of the company's furniture and accessories against a view of the city skyline. Twenty of Knoll's 3,500 worldwide employees spread out among rich fabrics and diverse textures in the 24,000-square-foot, den-like workspace. Most do not have assigned desks and work alongside decor inspired by their new neighborhood. Knoll collaborated with design firm Gensler to create an aesthetic with midcentury modern, contemporary and bohemian themes. The space also serves as the North American flagship showroom for Scandinavian design brand Muuto, the newest addition to Knoll's portfolio.

A giant hole cut through the center of the fifth through seventh floors allows light to bend into every corner, changing the feel seasonally, daily and hourly. A rotating mix of designers, developers, architects and clients are invited to work from the showroom, infusing it with energy that "gives an enormous amount of vitality to the space," says Design Director Benjamin Pardo.

It's a marked break from tradition for a Chicago furniture and textiles company, where the Merchandise Mart has traditionally been home. The change, says Pardo, is a sign of the times, with a new generation of buyers. Pardo says it was vital to be integrated into the city. He particularly loved the gritty, industrial backdrop of Fulton Market, where the average age of workers is conspicuously younger than in neighborhoods farther east.

"It boxed us away from an urban center in some senses," Pardo says of the company's former home in the Mart. "To be engaged in the city to me is magical."

Knoll has the unique distinction of being in the business of creating cool offices by incorporating luxurious fabrics, juxtaposed textures and vibrant patterns. Pardo believes workspaces that offer choice, comfort and visual interest play a key role in employee retention.

"If you're happy, have access to light, there's movement because the physical space permits that, you're more efficient in your work, more focused and happier to physically be in the space," he says.

Knoll's goal with its new office was to set an example for clients, demonstrating how an office can embody a company's culture and brand.

"The Knoll office proves that contract furniture is, in actuality, far from dull," says Michael Del Piero, one of the Coolest Offices judges. "The space invites you to explore, engage and expand your thoughts on traditional office furniture."