With its new, spaceship-like office in Boston's Financial District, recently minted unicorn DataRobot is putting its money to good use.
Recessed lighting, clean white lines and even a command center-like desk for the artificial intelligence company's executives are all features of the space, which stretches across the 13th and 14th floors as well as part of the 12th at 225 Franklin St. The company moved here last month from its old headquarters at 1 International Place.
Some 250 employees work out of this space full-time, with more to come. More than 300 job openings are currently listed on the company's website; Jon Rovello, DataRobot's director of operations, said the office can accommodate nearly 200 more workers. That's not accomplished without some reconfiguration, though. DataRobot's office is dynamic, with spaces designed to be converted from open collaboration areas to more traditional office setups with rows of desks.
Even the space's current configuration is designed to allow workers to switch back and forth between different kinds of work environments. Bright orange and blue curved couches are scattered across the floors for the more relaxed coder. Meanwhile, soundproof booths are available for increased focus, as are high-walled armchairs with small desks attached.
"This is made for the people who work here," Rovello said. "We know the people. We know how they work. We constantly adjust for them. We know full well that the people who work here will want to come to work tomorrow."
Rovello worked with the design firm IA Interior Architects to create the space over a period of 10 months, along with the general contractor Structure Tone.
The office isn't without its quirks. Sitting on one of the curved blue couches, as if he were working—but with a human leg protruding from his mouth—is a stuffed shark named Santiago, apparently one of DataRobot's more senior employees.
"He was with us in our old office," Rovello said. "He was here before I started, actually."
"Where did he come from?" I asked.
"The sea, I think," Rovello told me.
Click through the gallery below to check out the space.
Gallery
Author's note: A spokesperson reached out to tell BostInno that the shark's name is Santiago, not Carlos. This article has been updated to reflect that information.
