10 of New York City’s coolest startup offices

by Taylor Majewski
October 14, 2015

A dynamic and attractive office space is practically a requirement among tech companies and startups as they aim to spark creativity and recruit top talent by creating comfortable and professional environments. A well-designed office space with a variety of unique amenities fuels a great working culture—a core aspect to fostering a productive and innovative company. Sprawling office estates have replaced stifling cubicles, and among the labyrinth of the NYC startup scene, in-office perks are paramount. We've put together a list of New York City tech offices we wish we worked in.

 

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At Foursquare each room is inspired by a check-in. For example, the Swarm room is decorated like a beehive and the Herbivore room is decked out with plants. The office also boasts unique perks such as a gymnastics ring, a mini amphitheater, ping pong tables and air hockey sets.

 

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Etsy’s crafty Brooklyn office emulates the handmade products it sells. There is art all over the office, ranging from industrial felt installations to large wall murals. The office’s pipes are covered in knit cozies and its supply shelves are stocked with paint. The Etsy space also has a colorfully painted bike room where its employees begin and end their days.

 

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Birchbox, the online beauty subscription service, makes its home in a space decorated by interior design firm, design3. The aesthetically pleasing office utilizes a combination of birch trees and vibrantly colored accent walls. The main work area is formatted in an open plan, adhering to the company’s collaborative environment.

 

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Contently’s mission is to help companies build loyal audiences by using compelling storytelling as a marketing solution. As Contently is focused around managing premium content at scale, almost every surface at the company’s office is meant for writing down notes. At Contently, the writing on the wall is literal, and helps to charge employee creativity.

 

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Artsicle is an online art gallery that helps people discover artwork and artists by allowing users to rent art instead of buy it. Accordingly, the startup’s office has art covering its walls. The office is cozy, with a mini trampoline and chalkboard covered refrigerator set up within the space.

 

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Gawker’s office is reminiscent of a library, with draft tables replacing cubicles in the vintage inspired space. The office is decorated with paintings of American cheerleaders by Joe Heaps Nelson along with phone booths and bookcases. The space also has a rooftop patio for employees to work outdoors.

 

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AOL Ventures, the venture capital arm of AOL, makes its home in an office that emulates the startup environments it finances. The space features exposed brick, modern art, antique furniture and arched entryways, creating a warm and homelike atmosphere for its employees.

 

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Google is infamous for innovative office spaces, and the web search giant’s New York branch is no exception. The space infuses the nature of New York City into the office, with a room dedicated to the city’s Meatpacking district and a conference room designed like a crammed New York apartment. In getting around the office, Googlers are encouraged to climb down the space’s central ladder chute or zip around on an office scooter.

 

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IAC is an Internet company housed in a curvilinear Frank Gehry building bordering Chelsea Piers. The corporate headquarters are home to companies including Tinder, The Daily Beast and Vimeo, and the office’s design is as innovative as its tenants. The office includes a flexible furniture system that adjusts to the fluctuating shell of the building and a two-story atrium that overlooks the Hudson River. Upon entering the IAC headquarters, employees and visitors are greeted by a 118-foot-long video wall which projects video art and abstract color compositions.

 

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Spotify’s New York office is home to about 300 employees and provides a variety of office perks. The space is organized as an open working environment, where the interior is decorated with graffiti art and traditional walls are replaced with string. Employees can buy headphones and other gadgets from the office’s tech vending machine, which comes in handy when spontaneous jam sessions are happening in the center of the space. The office also has a rooftop deck where employees can work outside and take in New York's skyline.

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