CORPORATE: Workplace Design for a Hybrid Office

Aroma Joe’s, one of the nation’s leading handcrafted beverage franchises, relocated its headquarters from South Portland to the vibrant enclave of 700 Technology Way in Scarborough. This strategic relocation underscores the company’s commitment to advancement, innovation, and heightened operational efficacy.

The new 8,480-square-foot headquarters seamlessly integrates collaborative zones, ergonomic workstations, and inviting communal spaces, meticulously curated to nurture creativity and productivity. Within this dynamic space, the Collab Café thrives as a bustling hub for spontaneous interactions and brainstorming sessions, while the Training Room stands ready for educational workshops and professional development. Adding to the ambiance, the inviting West Elm Belle sofa provides stylish soft seating areas for relaxation and informal meetings, complementing the Coffee shop’s sense of community and creativity. Tranquil retreats for focused work and reflection await in the quiet area mezzanine, alongside ergonomically designed workstations that prioritize both productivity and comfort.
The headquarters also boasts unassigned spaces adorned with flexible seating arrangements and multifunctional zones, catering to various work styles and fostering collaboration. With the addition of Privacy Walls by Steelcase, the company gains the ability to adapt to changing needs effortlessly. These demountable walls offer on-demand flexibility, aligning with the company’s growth trajectory and vision for the future.

Nestled within Scarborough’s Enterprise Business Park, the new headquarters embodies Aroma Joe’s vision for innovation and expansion. It serves as a dynamic hub where ideas are exchanged and creativity flourishes.

Photos © Ryan Bent Photography

BXP, the largest publicly traded developer, owner, and manager of premier workplaces in the U.S., recently relocated its Boston regional office within the Prudential Tower, moving from the 18th to the 16th floor. The 28,000-square-foot space was a chance to realign the workplace with BXP’s culture — one that values innovation, collaboration, and a polished, high-performance environment. Red Thread supported the transformation through sit tests, showroom tours, and collaborative workshops that informed a detailed, tailored furniture package. The new office includes 35 private offices, 4 huddle rooms (one in each departmental neighborhood), and approximately 50 assigned workstations (nearly all Steelcase) creating a balanced environment for heads-down work and impromptu collaboration.

At the heart of the space is a central “Main Street” that connects community zones and leads to a lounge designed for strategic conversations and internal celebrations. Throughout the workplace, a jewel-box aesthetic elevates the experience; not in scale, but in detail. Height-adjustable desks, layered textures, and thoughtfully selected materials like velvet and warm wood tones bring richness to each zone. Custom lighting, including downlights and uplights, adds depth and warmth, while the café glows like hidden gem as the heart of the space — intimate, inviting, and a little unexpected. Every design element was chosen to reflect BXP’s brand, reinforce its culture, and create an environment that’s as polished as it is purposeful. With this relocation, BXP has crafted a high-performance, thoughtfully detailed space that supports its people today and anticipates the needs of tomorrow.

Photography by Ben Gancsos

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