We remember a time when furnishings made from salvaged materials were considered too avant-garde for mainstream businesses, but international ad agency Digitas proves that era is all in the past with their funky new Chicago headquarters! The company commissioned Torchia Architects to turn wooden pallets, a shipping container, and other salvaged materials into an inspiring space on the 11th floor of a downtown Chicago building. This colorful mixed-use office space is further enlivened with urban graffiti and color to create an environment that is ideal for manufacturing cutting-edge ideas.

In terms of a space that can spark creativity, this industrial-chic office is sooo much better than a boring, mono-tinted boardroom! Used wooden pallets were converted into rough walls, the lunchroom was put inside an upcycled shipping container, and the furniture is made from old barn wood salvaged from defunct factories throughout the windy city. Lastly, recycled warehouse windows are used to flood the entire floor with natural light, mitigating excess energy use!

Like the Google office in Zurich and this super-colorful school in California, the designers are following a new trend in applied design which recognizes how effectively blurring work and play with color and art inspires people to bust out new ideas. This can happen at any time, in any part of the office, and we think it’s awesome!

+ Torchia Architects

Via WAN

2 Responses to “Digitas Decks Out Its Inspiring Chicago Office with Salvaged Factory Materials and Urban Graffiti”

Sue Reddel (@Poshports) says:

November 21, 2011 at 1:19 pm

Terrific looking space for a digital ad agency. It’s wonderful that they used salvaged material. Thanks for sharing this work.
Tafline Laylin says:

November 22, 2011 at 7:11 am

Thanks for reading Sue!