Coolest offices in Chicago 2023: Crain's list

By Zlata Kozul Naumovski

June 5, 2023

With open floor plans and movable furniture, employees working in offices today enjoy more flexibility. They can work from an upholstered booth, a tufted leather sofa or a sunlit rooftop. They can manage and make executive decisions while seated at a bar, cappuccino or otherwise. The lucky ones also can indulge in food from a gourmet kitchen or relax in a steam shower in the spa.

Here, in our annual Coolest Offices Contest, we showcase the best-designed places Chicagoans work. The winners were chosen by design writer Zlata Kozul Naumovski and Jan Parr, a Crain's editor and former shelter magazine editor.

Space: 70,000 square feet over two floors in the Civic Opera House building.

Who did it: In-house design team of Elide Rathborne, Thomas Gibbons, Katharina Hoerath and Ryan Greenwood.

Cool because: The design is sophisticated and relaxed with dusty tones of blush, griege and steel blue. Custom booths are upholstered in plush fabric, while a gorgeous circular sofa invites employees and guests to unwind. Combined with bleached wood floors, natural wood tones and marble surfaces, the space has more in common with a chic hotel than a typical office.

Coolest feature: Sun-drenched office suites with views of the Chicago River.

Why employees like it: The space is pet-friendly and includes luxe amenities, such as shower rooms with towel service, multiple gourmet kitchens with state-of-the-art appliances and a furnished outdoor space. Plus, everyone looks good in the stunning mirrored stairwell that connects both floors.

Space: 31,000 square feet in a historic factory building in Fulton Market.

Who did it: In-house design team of Elide Rathborne, Thomas Gibbons, Katharina Hoerath and Ryan Greenwood.

Cool because: The space feels like an intimate nautical club reminiscent of the waterways and vessels that meander through Chicago. Materials are cool and sexy, with leather and velvet dominant. Lighting, finished in aged brass, is rugged yet refined. Deep, cool tones permeate the office. Modern pieces mix effortlessly with vintage ones.

Coolest feature: Hands down, the architecture: gorgeous original timber beams, exposed brick, vaulted wood plank ceilings and oversize windows that wrap the perimeter. We couldn't pick just one.

Why employees like it: The environment is simultaneously luxurious and relaxed. "Our team made conscious efforts to evoke peace and savor the beautiful details of the past, paying homage to this amazing city of Chicago," according to Creative Director Thomas Gibbons.

Space: Top two penthouse floors of the Civic Opera House.

Who did it: Eastlake Studio.

Cool because: The space boasts breathtaking views from every direction with massive circular windows that create an open and airy feeling.

Coolest feature: The 15th-floor roof deck—nothing beats access to fresh air and a stunning view, but the large open loft that doubles as a giant meeting and event space is a close second.

Why employees like it: The office was built with collaboration in mind, and it feels like a private coworking space for employees. Plus, conference rooms pay homage to influential women such as Serena Williams, Maya Angelou, Frida Kahlo, Rosa Parks and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a nice touch for a company committed to helping women remain active in the workforce.

Space: 4th and 5th floor amenity spaces of corporate headquarters in Willis Tower.

Who did it: Gensler

Cool because: The space incorporates artifacts from the company's history into the design, such as lettering from a decommissioned hangar, an engine inlet and 747 airplane windows.

Coolest feature: A library featuring vintage travel posters and soft lighting that invites connections and conversations and two expansive green spaces outside, complete with terrace furniture and rooftop views.

Why employees like it: Tons of natural light, and the whole vibe is more art-museum lobby than corporate cafe.

Space: Two floors of an office building on Upper Wacker Drive.

Who did it: Perkins & Will.

Cool because: The design offers a more casual, residential atmosphere that inspires people to return to the office. Plans are organized around zones called The Clouds, noted for their curved ceilings. Outfitted with full-height glass or playful ceiling light fixtures, these spaces provide an abundance of natural light and dynamic views to outside. Jewel-toned colors, light wood, layered textures and live plants create a warm, inviting space that feels more like home than an office.

Coolest feature: Distinct hospitality spaces such as a barista-staffed café serving specialty beverages; a grab-and-go market offering fresh, locally sourced food, and an indoor play terrace that can accommodate live music as easily as table tennis.

Why employees like it: The space offers more than 40 types of work settings—from open booths to team rooms with privacy drapery—that support differing behaviors and postures throughout the day. Workspaces and day lockers can be reserved via a phone app. Additionally, employees have access to privacy rooms with spa-like finishes and single-use, all-gender restrooms.

Space: An historic building in River North.

Who did it: NORR Chicago Interior Design Studio.

Cool because: The urban space is diffused with colors of blue skies and lakes (check out the painted ceiling with exposed ductwork!), tactile art and funky murals from local artists. An open floor plan promotes collaboration and movement. Furniture is movable.

Coolest feature: The curtain of bronze metal beads in the center of the studio. It creates a concentration pod that allows any employee to plug in and do design work.

Why employees like it: With a flexible and dynamic floor plan, employees are able to pick where they work and how they want to work. "The hybrid space adapts to anyone's needs in these ever-changing times as we turn the page on COVID-19," said Nick Hernandez, NORR Chicago Interiors studio manager.

Space: 18th floor in an iconic River North skyscraper

Who did it: Eastlake Studio

Cool because: Perimeter offices with floor-to-ceiling windows encircle the 5,560-square-foot space and provide unobstructed river and skyline views.

Coolest feature: A hidden door disguised as kitchen cabinetry that leads to an immersive showroom in which visitors can learn more about buildings available for lease.

Why employees like it: The space supports employees’ ability to entertain, socialize, collaborate, focus and even rest. It's not just a space to hammer out work.

Space: Top four floors of the newly constructed 345 North Morgan in Fulton Market.

Who did it: Partners by Design.

Cool because: The design is cohesive, welcoming and inspiring and reflects the rich industrial heritage of the Fulton Market neighborhood. Soaring 15-foot windows are defined by arches in the signature townhall space, where employees can mingle at a full bar or in front of the fireplace. Installations such as an interactive mural and a massive mechanical flip board help transform common areas.

Coolest feature: All four floors have access to an outdoor deck. The rooftop, shared by other building tenants, has an exclusive area for Havi employees only.

Why employees like it: All spaces were designed to bring employees together. Furniture is comfortable and beautiful, and technology is current to ensure that even remote employees feel included. And if specialty rooms such as the innovation and focus-group labs, which offer additional collaboration opportunities, aren't inspiring enough, nothing says teamwork like grabbing a cocktail with your work besties at an easy-to-walk-to joint in the coolest neighborhood in town.

Space: a 230,000-square-foot new-construction office building in Fulton Market.

Who did it: Sterling Bay

Cool because: The property, directly adjacent to Google's Midwest headquarters and the Emily Hotel, exudes character. Drawing on the neighborhood's industrial past and its enduring spirit of innovation, the LEED-designed building possesses soaring ceilings, arched windows and welded metal accents. Natural light permeates every corner. Floor plates are customizable for maximum flexibility and collaboration.

Coolest feature: Near floor-to-ceiling windows clad all sides of every level, providing exceptional views of Chicago's famous skyline in all directions.

Why employees like it: So many amenities to choose from: private outdoor terraces; a 5,000-square-foot roof deck with sweeping views; a conservatory bar and lounge with a double-sided fireplace; a full-service fitness and wellness center; a co-working library, and several high-tech conference spaces. And if employees choose to leave the comfy confines of the building, the city's coolest bars, restaurants and shops are literally steps away.

Space: A hybrid design studio/residential building in Logan Square.

Who did it: Mike Shively, En Masse founding partner.

Cool because: The architecture of the four-story building is simple and modern. Bold, concrete panels on the facade of the steel and glass structure control light. The top two floors serve as the private residence for the founder while the bottom two function for the business. There's a strong connection to the outdoors with floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors. For conference meetings, 12-foot steel doors with ribbed glass slide closed to provide privacy on the ground level. A nearby cappuccino bar fuels the creativity.

Coolest feature: The roof deck, where staff members can meet and work under a sun shade.

Why employees like it: With the studio space on the second floor, elevated from street level, the team of 11 employees enjoys a sense of privacy from passersby in the residential neighborhood and the stream of the natural light pouring in.

These companies get kudos for cool use of design elements or a special amenity.

We like the halo-like light fixtures and planted flowers in the open office of Brennan Investment Group.

Cresa's headquarters conjures a dark and moody vibe against the nighttime sky. It can easily be mistaken for a lounge in the most stylish hotel in town.

With a brick wall, wood-paneled reception area and a poured concrete floor accented with a cowhide rug, the vibe at Energy CX is nothing but laid-back.

At Accenture, a broadcast studio with state-of-the-art technology allows employees to create end-to-end video solutions for global clients, including production, content creation and multimedia editing with broadcast studio capabilities.

A wood runner on which employees can engage in work or just sit down for inspiring convo draws attention to the grand staircase at SMS Assist.