Cool Digs Inno Edition: b.well Connected Health goes from remote to in-person with Baltimore office

This article is part of a special Maryland Inno edition of Cool Digs, a Baltimore Business Journal column that highlights new and recently renovated offices and workplaces across Greater Baltimore. To see the rest of the featured offices in this series, click here.

b.well Connected Health

Baltimore digital health startup b.well Connected Health opened its first office in an 8,000-square-foot space in Federal Hill in November 2022.

The headquarters at 145 W. Ostend St. gives the previously fully-remote company its first physical space, from which about 45 employees will work. The move was prompted by "fast and required growth and traveling teams," a spokesperson for the company said, and can easily accommodate drop-in visitors to fit with the company's hybrid work culture.

"Our space design started with relevance and intention that starts with a vision, a story to back it up, and quality-driven programming. This process provided the new headquarters with a dynamic and vibrant space, reflective of b.well’s culture of collaboration and creativity."

How does the design reflect the company's office culture? The Verve Partnership encouraged employee interaction by designing a space that balances private workspaces, open and closed collaboration spaces and drop-in workspaces that allow privacy while also welcoming interaction and connectivity.

Describe the various workspaces in the office. There is a balance of private touch-down offices and touch-down workstations. Everything is shared with the exception of one HR office. This was the result of intentional planning and a design method that aligns with the collaborative and transparent nature of the b.well culture.

Why Baltimore? The company wanted to provide its employees with a vibrant workplace experience. There is considerable energy in the Federal Hill neighborhood, with its eclectic array of shops, restaurants, nightlife and sporting venues walkable from the building, the area promises to be a recruitment tool. It was also important to lead by example and make a statement by bringing a new corporate headquarters to Baltimore.

What were the guiding principles behind the office's design? By using biophilic design principles and taking a page from the International Well Building Institute — access to natural light, integrating greenery into the space and the use of wood elements on floors and walls — we are connecting humans with nature with a consistent result of improving well-being.

Additionally, the choices of textures, lighting and soft colors were crucial, as every decision needed to build upon the other to create a feeling of community, togetherness and innovation.

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