The atmosphere in the Yelp NYC office has always been a rowdy one. Composed of mostly sales, all the team members sit in open benching. The challenge presented to Design Republic was not only preserving that energy in their new workspace, but almost doubling the head count to a total of 900 employees.

When Yelp initiated their relocation into 11 Madison Avenue, Design Republic quickly noted the sprawling 80,000 RSF floor plates of the two floors they were to assume—immediately presenting the question of how to make the space manageable. To the design team, the answer was obvious: Much like the city it was representing, the office needed to be broken down into easily navigable “neighborhoods.”

Employees and visitors are led to each neighborhood by its appropriate subway line, color-stained into the exposed concrete floor. Legends are placed throughout to guide employees and visitors alike.

Not unlike New Yorkers, Yelp employees need break away spaces: to commingle, and to relax. (Working within an open plan of hundreds of employees requires an escape from time to time.) To elaborate on our design concept, these spaces reflect where locals escape to; public parks, night bazaars, waterfront concerts, libraries, etc.