It’s not news that it’s tough to find quality commercial space in the Innovation District. But, when Mendix’s team walked into its current office at 268 Summer Street, the enterprise app platform's leadership saw potential, and decided to perform a makeover.
Granted, that was only after the the Netherlands-founded firm toured a bevy of Boston and Cambridge buildings. Once Mendix got its hands on the spot, however, the transformation commenced as the firm began to tailer the space to fit its 40-and-growing staff. The company turned the once-black walls and ceiling white, letting the building’s exposed brick peek through, and added a much-needed punch of culture-connected color into the space.
Walk off the elevators and you’ll meet a pair of tangerine-hued, modern arm chairs sitting beneath a mounted blue and black Mendix sign. The orange scheme prevails around the office, making an appearance in the company’s naturally sunlit corner, complete with couch and basketball hoop. Cross the open floor plan workspace and pass a collection of standing desks, and you’ll hit a number of bar-style tables and matching chairs in the signature sunny color, conveniently close to the kitchen.
Even Mendix’s fish match. Yup, you heard that right: The company has a goldfish in Boston as well as in its London, Rotterdam and South Africa offices. The story of Mendix’s goldfish stems back to a European conference at which the company's founder and CEO Derek Roos spoke. The event coordinators had forgotten to get Roos a thank you gift for participating on the conference’s panel. So, in lieu of giving the innovator a typical token of appreciation, like a bottle of wine, they scooped a goldfish from the venue lobby’s aquarium. Roos carried the fish all the way back to Mendix's very first office in Rotterdam. Ever since, the company has kept a goldfish in each of its spaces, and intends to keep the tradition going strong.
(And no, the little gilled guy featured in the following slides isn’t the original.)
