BEST OFFICE DESIGN - CONDÉ NAST/PITCHFORK

After being acquired by Conde Nast, Pitchfork (pitchfork.com) – the indie music brand that started in Chicago as a quarterly music review with annual festivals in Union Park and Paris – recently moved from its gritty Logan Square garage into a brand-new office in the Merchandise Mart. Merging with its new Conde Nast team, previously located in a corporate environment in the John Hancock Center, required a space that could accommodate two very different work cultures. Micahel Berger, of local frim GREC Architects transformed the entire 12,000-square-foot 21st floor of the Merchandise Mart by breaking away from a glossy media office and focusing on the creativity of Pitchfork’s roots. The large, open workspace makes the most of the natural light and features a condo-like kitchen and lounge areas. Custom huddles and rooms provide privacy for phone calls and meetings within the shared space, and there is an elevated stage for hosting impromptu intimate concerts. Walls were left blank to offer a gallery for original artwork such a record covers and band posters. The result is “a more interactive environment allowing for a greater communication among teams and across groups,” says Berger.