Your current office might be cool, but is it “private terrace on the 21st floor of the Empire State Building” cool? It is at these local startups. We checked out some of the city’s most unique office spaces and were amazed at what some professionals call home for 40-plus hours a week. Peek inside some of these workspaces and see what dreams are made of.
Intersection is the mastermind behind LinkNYC, a service that lets people charge their devices, make phone calls and get free Wi-Fi at kiosks throughout the city — and you would know this based on the way their office is designed. With city maps, LED light projections and urban decor, the Intersection office gives employees and visitors the full NYC experience. Recruiting operations associate Becca Miner told us what she loves most about the space.
How many employees work at the office?
330 people work in our New York office, and we have about 620 employees nationwide.
How big is the space?
We have two floors at Hudson Yards — about 67,000 square feet in total.
When did you move in?
We moved in when the building was officially opened in September 2016.
What's your favorite part of the space?
Our office is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows that offer a unique 360-degree view of Manhattan and the Hudson River (and beautiful sunsets!). Additionally, our space is designed with collaboration in mind, which is why there are over 30 shared working areas and conference rooms designed around the cities we work with.
Is there anything unique about your office you'd like to share?
At Intersection, we work very closely with cities across the globe, so design elements throughout the office are a tribute to modern urban environments. When you first arrive, you walk out of the elevator facing a 70-foot LED wall showing busy city streetscapes from New York, and our high traffic areas resemble city sidewalks. Another fun fact is that our office is located at 10 Hudson Yards, which is the first completed building in the Hudson Yards development on Manhattan's west side.
Shutterstock, an online marketplace for digital images, has an office that gives its own stock photos competition. The company’s headquarters are located in the Empire State Building, complete with two terraces overlooking all of Manhattan. Head of global office facilities and operations Razia Meyer walked us through some of the coolest spaces in the office.
How many employees work at the office?
More than 450 employees work in our NYC headquarters in the Empire State Building.
How big is the space?
Our office is roughly 110,000 square feet, across three floors.
When did you move in?
In early 2014, we moved into the iconic Empire State Building. In January 2017, we added a third floor to accommodate our growing team!
What's your favorite part of the space?
We’re fortunate to have two private terraces on the 21st floor that overlook the east and west sides of Manhattan. It’s a great spot to enjoy lunch and snack breaks, and we’ve even held some summer fitness classes out there!
Is there anything unique about your office you'd like to share?
When designing our NYC headquarters, we took great care to create a unique space that celebrates the original art deco style the Empire State Building is known for with a modern twist. If you walk through the space, you’ll notice original mail shoots are preserved, and we’ve integrated the traditional steel grates into the decor as part of our large staircase that connects two floors. In addition to our unique office style, we’ve also created a space that allows for a focus on health and wellness, which is very important to our employees. We provide our team with fitness classes, salad bars, drinks on tap and standing desks so they can be their best selves every day.
Sisense is a data analytics solution based in Midtown. Its office features some unique decor, like a Lego wall and a wooden mural of Central Park. Office and experience manager Sabrina Muldoon tells us what other interesting things you can find around the office.
How many employees work at the office?
121 employees.
How big is the space?
24,200 square feet.
When did you move in?
First week of May 2017.
What's your favorite part of the space?
Our favorite part of the space would have to be our town hall area! We have an open layout that can accommodate the entire NYC staff for global meetings and after-work happy hours. We also have a life-size pin wall that you can use to create large designs, or even leave a life-sized profile as an imprint! Right above our heads is an original mural in the shape of NYC built out of wooden boards, with potted plants representing Central Park. It’s an awesome conversation starter!
Is there anything unique about your office you'd like to share?
We would say outside of our themed rooms, the most unique thing about our office is the people. At Sisense, it feels like you’re surrounded by family. People hang out together both in and outside of the office — we all go out together on the weekends. Coming to work is never a chore, and the culture here is like no place else!
Marketing platform Outbrain operates out of a brightly colored office in the Flatiron. The space takes up an entire floor of its building and hosts company-wide meetings in its kitchen. Country manager of North America Keith Pepper told us what else makes the office special.
How many employees work at the office?
We have 160 employees in our NYC location.
How big is the space?
Our office is 23,000 square feet — it’s one floor that spans the entire length between 13th and 14th streets.
When did you move in?
We moved into the space in July 2012.
What's your favorite part of the space?
The building is older, rustic and, yes, quirky, but we've created a wonderful gathering place in the kitchen where we can host global video meetings, eat lunch from local restaurants or share a Thursday afternoon toast when the space turns into our weekly beer garden.
Is there anything unique about your office you'd like to share?
We really have the best of both worlds here. We’re on a residential block, which makes coming and going a bit more quaint than the typical crowded, noisy NYC street. The space is wide open and spans a full block between 13th and 14th streets, so you get lots of space, but everybody is still on the same floor.
