We visit a ton of cool offices at Built In NYC — it's a perk of the job. And, while (almost) all tech offices we visit are nice places to work, some are exceptional. Some have awesome kitchens, some have rooftop gardens to die for and others are just jam-packed with video games and booze. They all have their own charms.
So, to help make sense of it all, we thought we'd compile our own "best of the best" list for NYC tech offices. These are the spaces that stick out amongst the hundreds of offices we've visited this year.
The Prettiest...
To call Kickstarter's Greenpoint offices pretty is an understatement. The company's space features a rooftop garden, a central green-atrium, an old-timey library and a whole lot more. There are also usually a bunch of celebrities walking around, making this one of NYC's most exciting, and prettiest, spaces to work in the city.
The coolest...
Livestream's offices in Bushwick are something of a hipster paradise. Located in an old industrial building, the office is like one huge piece of artwork. There are a bunch of murals painted by local artists, Bob Dylan and Iggy Pop throw pillows and they even have their own restaurant.
The swankiest...
You probably know Squarespace as the place you go to make a design-forward website. So, it should come as no surprise that that same design-forward approach went into their new, custom designed office in the West Village. The company took their time to make sure things were done right, and although the process started in March of 2014, employees didn't get to move in until March of 2016. It was worth the wait.
The most creative...
Etsy is a born and bred Brooklyn company and counts the borough's creative and artistic energy among the reasons for their success. Their Dumbo offices are huge, housing around 500 people. Despite their size, the space is bright and colorful and clearly decorated with items that came from (where else) the Etsy store.
Most relaxed vibe...
Yotpo moved into their new space around Labor Day, but the last time we visited (in September), they were still throwing housewarming parties. I guess they have a lot of friends. Their new space is super relaxed, super fun and super comfortable. People work from beanbag chairs and — this was the first time we've seen this — some people were 'working' from massage chairs.
The best view...
MediaMath's office takes up the 44th, 45th and 46th floors of 4 World Trade Center, and the entire office is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows. Literally everyone in the company has a view that tourists pay big money for — and all from the comfort and quiet of their desks. Seriously, the views are stunning.
Best kitchen...
Many of the companies we visit have kitchens that could be featured in Better Homes and Garden Magazine. Still, there's something about Betterment's kitchen that stands out. It's simultaneously rustic and homey, yet big enough to accommodate three floors of employees. Who knows, maybe it just stands out because every time we visit their onsite chef seems to be cooking up something delicious.
The most fun...
Think about the coolest basement hangout space you could imagine when you were growing up. Then supercharge it for a cash-flush company and stick it in an office in the Financial District and you'll start to get an idea of Stack Overflow's office. There are arcade games, ping pong tables, a dedicated area to play PS4 FIFA, and a team of chefs cooking up lunchtime treats. Can you imagine how jealous all the bankers that work in their building must be?
The most impressive...
Yelp's offices along Madison Square Park are an impressive mix of old-world class and techie fun. While their gilded lobby looks like something out of Mad Men, the office itself has an almost Spring Break vibe with music pumped in and an onsite barista.
The coolest backstory...
After being forced from their original office in a garage in Soho, Wink went on a long search. It took them a long time, but they finally found a new garage to call home, this time in Chelsea. Their new garage space is more than a little nicer than the original.
The best use of space...
Undertone found themselves in a quandary — they desperately wanted a sunlit private patio, but already had an awesome office (sans patio) on the 8th floor of a Madison Avenue skyscraper. So, they decided to build an indoor rooftop deck. Hey, if the people at the LowLine can build an underground park, why can't an Adtech company build a rooftop garden 50 floors below the roof?
Know of a company that deserves coverage? Let us know or tweet us @builtinnewyork.
