In the lighting and architecture industries, the word “repositioning” comes up often – but what does it actually mean? In contrast to cut-and-dry renovations or new-build projects, repositioning a space means reenvisioning and reinventing it. Think of it as a kind of rebranding, where traditionally corporate buildings enter into the world of hospitality-focused amenities. This often means introducing nontraditional features to office workplaces, such as fitness centers, game rooms, and bars. These perks, usually found in restaurants and residential developments, are becoming more and more common in corporate life – and that means our corporate clients are eager to reposition to provide similarly appealing benefits to current and future employees.

When it comes to repositioning a space with luxurious hospitality offerings, Chicago’s 225 W. Washington is the perfect case study. This eye-catching workplace, located in the city’s West Loop, offers its corporate tenants a slew of amenities: a full bar, lounge-style seating, a game room with a pool table, and much more. To help achieve the elegance the client was seeking, the GGLD team designed striking gold-beaded curtains from scratch and hung them in sparkling arcs from the ceiling above the bar, lighting them from within with glowing, golden globes. We also added illumination beneath each step of the large, curved staircase, guiding guests upstairs toward the intimate lounge, which features a ceiling full of decorative fixtures that create a dazzling starfield effect.

Today, 225 W. Washington is a sophisticated and modern workplace that markets itself almost like an apartment building, amplifying its amenities to prospective corporate tenants. The GGLD team’s design instills warmth, elegance, and romance throughout the lobby, game room, and lounges. This repositioned approach to corporate life is marketable, enjoyable, and, perhaps most of all, centered on positive employee experiences.

Another corporate space repositioned with hospitality in mind can be found just down the block at 111 S. Wacker, where the GGLD team helped transform three levels of office space into one of Chicago’s most desired workplaces. As with 225 W. Washington, we harnessed our experience in the restaurant and theatrical design sectors to revitalize the building’s amenity program and enhance its appeal to tenants.

We filled the space with layered and textured lighting from energy-efficient LED fixtures to create a range of environments — from lounges with a soft, residential feel to the fitness area with its bold, bright character. One of the most eye-catching architectural features of the office is located in this fitness area, where a semi-transparent metal screen wraps around the room. Utilizing illuminated LED sheets, we gave a glowing, back-lit effect to the walls and ceiling, bolstering the architecture of the stairwell and emphasizing the energetic feel of this zone. In contrast, the tenant lounge features soft grazes and oversized acoustical fixtures to support both collaboration and relaxation for employees. When taken as a whole, the office walks a delicate line between corporate functionality and welcoming hospitality.

The strategies our team uses to reposition corporate spaces are not new – though they may be unfamiliar in the modern office. Intentional hospitality details, such as restaurant-style pin-spotting, create modulated highs and lows that encourage intimate conversation and subtly boost the appeal of the room. These amenity-focused workplaces are all about experiences and less about statement pieces, like office lobbies of the past often were.

If our work in repositioning has taught us one thing, it’s that more and more clients are seeking the comforts of hospitality design. GGLD welcomes the exciting variability of these projects. Our team never knows what to expect – and that’s a good thing. It allows us to think on our feet, get creative, and trust ourselves to invent the future of the workplace: one that centers on employees’ needs and enjoyment, not just their productivity. Whether you’re at work, at a hotel, or out for the night – comfort is in style.