Cool offices

F Street

Andy Warhol’s New York City studio was named The Factory. Milwaukee-based F Street Group’s offices share that name and, fittingly, the company decorates its space with abstract and pop art, including a series of skateboards with the Campbell soup can painted on them and an abstract painting of Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse. Mike Doney, director of marketing and creative for F Street, said those artworks are intended to inspire “new perspectives” and create an “exciting and fun” workplace environment. The offices for F Street, an investment firm, also include a lounge area and gym to encourage employees to “stay in the building and be engaged with their workspace” and create a more comfortable work experience, Doney said.

Plum Media

Plum Media, a video production, live event and live streaming production company in Milwaukee, designed its office space to “celebrate what it is we do,” said president Rich Schmig. One of Plum Media’s producers, Lance Miller, decorates his office with a “retro-future style,” Schmig said. Miller used posters and memorabilia from the past to predict what the future might look like, including a “Metropolis” poster. The theme of putting the past on display continues with Plum Media’s “Mac Museum,” which features computers the company has used throughout the years, starting with one of Apple’s first personal computers, the Lisa.

VCPI

The employees at Milwaukee-based IT firm VCPI are encouraged to focus on their “balance and well-being” during the work day by using its quiet and wellness rooms, according to Helena Scherer-Jones, vice president of human resources and organizational development. VCPI organizes guided meditation and mindfulness sessions for its employees, providing them a “comfortable environment to decompress,” Scherer-Jones said. One of VCPI’s recent hires, marketing generalist Mrinal Gokhale, said she leaves these rooms feeling refreshed and motivated, and is more productive during the workday after spending time unwinding in the quiet room.

New Land Enterprises

A wall of Milwaukee-based New Land Enterprises’ office breakroom features a large, eye-catching Scrabble board, demonstrating the “playful nature” of the residential real estate development firm, according to director Tim Gokhman. The idea originated when Gokhman would bring in Scrabble to pass the time in the winter months when business slowed down. Playing was not only a good way to take a break, but also to “connect with a coworker in a different way,” Gokhman said. New Land Enterprises’ offices are designed to be open and multipurpose. The private offices have glass doors and walls, and the open seating is broken down into groups. The company also uses plants not only for their production of higher-quality air, but also to “create visual and acoustic separations without using walls,” Gokhman said.