We are Red Thread
Rethinking
the Workplace
Furniture
Technology
Architectural Systems
We help transform workplaces to engage employees and support their best work by integrating furniture, technology, and architectural systems.
The way we work has changed forever. Today’s workplaces need to be flexible and tailored to drive innovation, build connections, and strengthen culture.
Hybrid work is here to stay, whether you’re balancing in-person and remote teams or engaging with external partners. We’ll partner with you to rethink your workplace strategy, ensuring you deliver equitable experiences with cutting-edge technology and create a destination that enhances your workplace culture.
Our integrated approach sets us apart.
Creating integrated environments is about more than combining components—it’s about creating cost-effective, adaptable, and sustainable workplaces.
With expertise in furniture, demountable walls, technology and floor covering, we excel in seamless integration.
Our team crafts tailored solutions, ensuring flawless execution and ongoing support. We design environments where your people and culture can thrive.
Featured Project: Workhuman
Workhuman’s new headquarters at 100 Staples Drive in Framingham, Massachusetts, epitomizes a trailblazing workspace tailored to foster innovation, wellbeing, and collaboration. Spanning 157,000 square feet, this space is designed to reflect the company’s ethos and heritage, promoting a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable work environment.
Our Latest Projects
The unique spaces we create for our customers speak for themselves.
With the return to office and intense competition for talent, CEOs are prioritizing company culture. Real estate is not only a vital financial asset but also the stage where we craft environments that enhance employee connections. We take pride in understanding each company’s unique culture and translating that essence into their workspace design.
The Atrium at 50 Church
The Atrium at 50 Church
Date
Trinity Properties
Timeline
Furniture
Client
Cambridge, MA
A Fresh Take on the Atrium at 50 Church.
The two-story atrium at 50 Church Street in Cambridge has been thoughtfully refreshed to serve as a shared amenity space for all building tenants. Spanning nearly 2,800 sq. ft. above a concert venue, the atrium is designed to support both everyday use and special events, with flexible furniture arrangements that can be easily reconfigured. A neutral color palette of greens, browns, and greys adds warmth and calm to the space, creating an inviting atmosphere for everything from casual meetings to community gatherings.
Outdated furnishings were replaced with a curated mix of ancillary pieces from ten different manufacturers, bringing a sophisticated, elevated look that feels timeless yet modern. The result is a light, airy space that balances functionality with comfort—designed to bring people together and enhance the tenant experience.
Ragon Institute
Ragon Institute
Date
AVH Consulting, Planar, HP/Poly
Timeline
Direct view LED walls, Auto tracking cameras, Video conferencing, Digital signage
Client
Cambridge, MA
The Ragon Institute is turning the page with a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility in Cambridge’s Kendall Square — marking a bold next chapter in its evolution.
Fifteen years after its founding, the Ragon Institute is entering a transformative new chapter with the opening of a purpose-built facility in Cambridge’s Kendall Square. A collaboration between MIT, Harvard, and Mass General Brigham, the institute was created to unite disciplines and accelerate progress in global health. This new space brings that mission to life, expanding the capacity for discovery while creating stronger connections across research teams.
Technology plays a central role throughout the new five-story building. In the lobby, visitors are welcomed by a striking 20-foot Planar LED wall displaying curated content. Adjacent to the lobby, a 180-seat auditorium and a 45-seat Seminar Hall each feature 15-foot Planar video walls. The rear walls of these venues are floor-to-ceiling glass, offering panoramic views that immerse guests in the heart of Kendall Square. These spaces are equipped with Poly conferencing systems, tabletop microphones, and full video conferencing capabilities.
Across all five floors, a variety of meeting spaces are available—from medium (8-person) to extra-large (14-person) conference rooms—all outfitted with LCD displays, Poly video conferencing technology, and laptop connectivity. On the fifth floor, a 20-person boardroom opens to an adjacent outdoor deck and features advanced AV integration, including a 20-foot Planar LED wall, ceiling speakers, microphones, and a lectern designed for flexible, technology-forward presentations.
Reflecting its dedication to community engagement, the Ragon Institute has also allocated one-third of its total footprint for public use. With its thoughtful design and leading-edge technology, the new facility advances the Institute’s mission to promote innovation, collaboration, and impactful research for better global health outcomes.
Photos: Chris Navin Photography
CarGurus
CarGurus
Date
IA
Timeline
Furniture
Client
Boston, MA
CarGurus headquarters: a state-of-the-art, inclusive workspace reflecting flexibility, well-being, and brand identity.
CarGurus, a leading U.S. automotive marketplace for buying and selling vehicles, recently consolidated its headquarters into a central location in Boston’s Back Bay. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Boston’s Mayor Wu presented an award to CarGurus, commending their decision to establish a state-of-the-art office as an anchor tenant in the Back Bay neighborhood. This move brought together nearly 1,000 employees who had previously worked in separate offices in Cambridge, uniting them on the top ten floors of a new 20-story building. Originally designed with a traditional layout before the pandemic, the project evolved to embrace a flexible workspace model better suited to CarGurus’ hybrid work culture.
The new floor plan prioritizes adaptable, bookable workspaces to support diverse work scenarios, including collaboration, meetings, and focused individual work. With versatile meeting rooms, social hubs and mobile power, the space fosters choice and collaboration while remaining adaptable to future needs. Employee well-being and inclusivity were central to the headquarters design. The office includes mothers’ suites on multiple floors, wellness rooms, single-use restrooms, and workstations, enabling individuals to tailor their spaces to their needs. Ergonomics, acoustics, and the balance between quiet zones and active areas were carefully considered, with serene libraries for introspection and active spaces for social interaction. Within the open plan, the Steelcase Brody Lounge Chair and Shielded Flex workstations created cozy spaces with visual privacy for individual work. The Steelcase Karman task chair was chosen following a sit test that evaluated its comfort, aesthetic appeal, and sustainability features.
The design incorporates CarGurus’ brand identity through color-coordinated wayfinding and floor themes inspired by the regions in which the company operates. Amenities, such as a game room, libraries, a tech bar, a barista bar, training areas, and rooftop decks, encourage cross-functional interaction, creating a vibrant and engaging workspace that reflects CarGurus’ commitment to innovation and employee empowerment.
Photos © Robert Benson Photography
South Portland Middle School
South Portland Middle School
Date
wbrc, Harvery Construction
Timeline
Furniture
Client
South Portland, ME
Empowering education: a student-centered school for innovation and community.
The $69 million South Portland Middle School serves grades five through eight in a single new building, consolidating two former middle schools into one. The project’s furniture selection, procurement and installation efforts were led by Red Thread in collaboration with WBRC Inc. Together, they conducted custom workshops that included leadership discovery and floor plan reviews with faculty, staff, and administration. These workshops played a key role in identifying the specific functions of spaces—such as library, cafeteria, art rooms, STEM areas, and classroom spaces—and creating tailored solutions that aligned with both the design direction and budget. To support confident decision-making, the approval process included detailed furniture renderings depicting architectural finishes. Mockup classroom test-fit installations during the design process allowed live feedback from both students and staff.
The innovative school design features academic wings connected to shared spaces for art, STEM, library, dining, and gym activities. New furnishings and visual displays enable flexible classroom layouts, accommodating both traditional seating and collaborative small group work. Students can also choose from a variety of seating styles to meet their preferences. Additionally, a versatile multi-purpose room serves as an auxiliary space for gym classes, stage performances, and large community gatherings.
Photos © Jeff Roberts Photography
Community at Work
Community is the glue that holds people together
during change and adversity. When people feel a sense of community, they are far more likely to be engaged and productive, have higher levels of wellbeing and achieve better results. The workplace is a strategic asset organizations can use as the infrastructure for building community. In this issue of Work Better magazine, see how existing, underperforming office spaces can be transformed using Community-Based Design principles. And explore why privacy – the #1 need in the office right now – has many possibilities.