Everyone knows what a pain it is to update all your information when you move. Updater solves that problem by offering a set of digital tools to help alleviate the inefficiencies and annoyances that come along with the notoriously stressful process of moving.

The company’s newest headquarters is a well-lit, airy single floor space perched above Union Square. Along with terrific views of the park below, Updater’s office interior boasts a beautiful mixture of pale wood, natural light and bright colors, as well as a distinctive elevated seating area for both individual work and team meetings.

We caught up with Jenna, Updater’s Marketing Director, to discuss the space!

Photographer: Adrian Wilson

Bright Loft at 19 Union Square West

SquareFoot

Describe the layout of your office. How does the office design encourage creativity, productivity, and team happiness?

Updater

Everything in our office was designed specifically to encourage collaboration. Our office is about as “open floor plan” as you can get. We have one big shared space for everything from our workstations to our kitchen to our lounges, and then we have eight meeting rooms for personal space, client calls, internal meetings, and sanity.

Photographer: Adrian Wilson

SquareFoot

What does your space do best?

Updater

Our space makes an incredible first impression. You don’t need to be Google to create an office that leaves a lasting impression and excites both team members and visitors. Our space welcomes you in with warm colors, natural light from all angles, plants, creative artwork, a swag bar to encourage you to take a little piece of Updater home with you, and – most importantly – friendly people. If a visitor is waiting for a meeting in reception, it’s not uncommon for multiple team members to go over, introduce themselves, and offer a water or coffee.

Photographer: Adrian Wilson

SquareFoot

What went in to choosing the colors and materials for the office furniture, light fixtures, and other decor?

Updater

The finishings were a complete partnership between TPG and Updater. TPG gave us guidelines, recommendations, and samples to help us make smart decisions, and we ultimately went with what felt right. At some point though, choosing the finishings becomes a leap of faith – you can’t see everything in person before you purchase. Therefore, for more items than I’d like to admit, we purchased, shipped, and hoped for the best! Thankfully, the recommendations were on target and we nailed it. But for more complicated decisions that define the space, like paint for example, both teams had to be extra calculated.

Photographer: Adrian Wilson

SquareFoot

If you could change something about your workspace, what would it be?

Updater

We’d probably add more small meeting rooms.

Photographer: Adrian Wilson

SquareFoot

How does your space handle the issue of privacy, for those who need it at certain times?

Updater

We have eight private meeting rooms (of varying shapes and sizes) with video conferencing capabilities and whiteboards. The need for personal breathing room as our team expands is crucial.

Photographer: Adrian Wilson

SquareFoot

How long have you been in this space? Where was your office before that?

Updater

It’s been 7 glorious months at 19 Union Square West! Our old office was only a few blocks north at 26th and Broadway. We had about 2,300 square feet there, so our new space is more than four times the size – it’s great.

SquareFoot

How did you find the space, and how did you know that it was the right space for your company?

Updater

We found the space through our broker, Justin Myers, a friend of ours. He toured us around many offices, but when this space came on the market, it was essentially love at first sight. With two walls of windows that span the entire width and length of the office and views overlooking Union Square, we knew it was perfect for us. The natural lighting brought a certain warmth to the space, even when it was empty and raw.

Photographer: Adrian Wilson

SquareFoot

What’s the best part about the surrounding neighborhood?

Updater

What’s not to love about Union Square? The food options are nearly unlimited, there’s a dog park for our Pupdater pups, it’s an easy commute from just about everywhere, and there’s a Dylan’s Candy Bar right next door!

Photographer: Adrian Wilson

SquareFoot

What is your favorite part of the office (or the team’s favorite)?

Updater

We hired an absolutely incredible artist, Greg Kletsel, to create a custom mural for us surrounding our stadium seating area. Themed, “The Lighter Side of Moving,” the mural is a nod to our business and our company history, truly bringing the evolution of our brand and our mission to life. It’s a daily reminder that what we’re building can be fun – moving doesn’t have to be a pain. He included everything from flying houses to cardboard box people to E.T. phoning home! Even some of our longest-tenured employees are featured in the mural – a creative “thank you” for years of hard work and dedication.

Here’s a time lapse video of the mural coming to life.:

 Photographer: Adrian Wilson

Designer: TPG Architecture