Wooing Millennials

Caring about the environment is an important tool in recruiting and retaining Millennials in creative offices, Perkins+Will associate principal Eric Mersmann tells us.

We’ll hear from Eric and other experts at Bisnow’s Chicago Creative Office Summit on Jan. 30. Ratings like LEED and Energy Star, as well as inventive reuse of existing materials, is the new definition of a cool crib. Take Hillshire Brands’ Sterling Bay-developed HQ at 400 S Jefferson (recently LEED Gold certified), which Eric worked on last year. The team re-milled the building’s old wood water towers into wall panels and also used the original entry doors for the reception area. Next he’s working on bike parts manufacturer SRAM’s space at 1K Fulton. No surprise, the office will include bike amenities like full showers and locker rooms, bike washing stations, and even a test track running through the office for the engineers. (Rendering below, design by Perkins+Will.)

Creative office means bright colors and high energy, but the trick is balancing that vibe with sophistication “so it doesn’t look like a college dorm room,” Eric says. (It’s hard to be professional on a beanbag chair.) Offices have also started to follow the airline club model (with areas for sitting, standing, lounging, and private meetings), including integrated technology, food, and beverage. Chicago’s biggest challenge: creating these collaborative spaces within the envelope of its many traditional office buildings (one reason the West Loop’s edgier inventory has been so successful). A rabid Kansas Jayhawks fan and foodie, Eric highly recommends the “Cease and Desist” gin cocktail at CH Distillery.