One of the 15 coolest offices in America!?
How we incorporated our values into our Palo Alto office design
Hi, I’m Kaori from the Mercari US Talent team. Hope everyone is enjoying the new year! As our first blog post of the year, we would like to share the story of how our Palo Alto office design came together and how it is being used by our team members.
In July of last year, Glassdoor published “15 Coolest Offices in America,” which featured our Palo Alto office. We were honored to be selected as one of the coolest offices in America, along with other companies such as PayPal and Pinterest.
Let’s hear from our Corporate Office Manager, Kirk!
Hi everyone, I’m Kirk and I am the Corporate Office Manager of Mercari US. I have been with Mercari since May of 2015 and have been part of six office moves (three in San Francisco, one to Palo Alto, one in Portland and one in Boston). It’s been a lot of fun, hard work and I’m happy to be a part of our company’s growth!
About our Palo Alto office
Kaori: What was the idea behind this office layout?
Kirk: One of the first things you’ll notice when you enter our office space is the dramatic combination of colors, shapes, and materials. Orange and blue. Round and straight. Wood, steel, and textiles. We designed it to be a bold first impression. Just past the lobby, visitors catch a glimpse of an informal collaboration workspace and just beyond that through the window, a hint of our beautiful outdoor communal space. Finally, the office is in the heart of the thriving Bay Area Silicon Valley, so we have to be professional. All of this is just within the first few steps of entering our office. Go Bold. All for One. Be a Pro.
Kaori: How do you feel about the Palo Alto office being selected as one of the 15 coolest offices in America?
Kirk: Being chosen confirms what I already knew! We’re lucky to work in a cool space that encourages tons of creative thinking!
Kaori: What are some of the key things we consider when designing new offices?
Kirk: What we look for when we design a new space is first a location and architecture that reinforces our company values. Can we see ourselves growing and thriving there? From there we allow the culture and vibe of the city to inform the aesthetic. Our Portland, Oregon office, for instance, is different from our Palo Alto office because it reflects the eclectic and unique nature of the city of Portland. Our Palo Alto office is maybe a little more serious since we are located at the heart of Silicon Valley, but it’s still pretty hip.
Kaori: What are you most proud about in the Palo Alto office?
Kirk: There is so much to brag about when it comes to our office! I would say that the thing that I’m most proud of, though, is the type of employees that we’ve been able to attract since moving to Palo Alto last year. We’ve grown so fast! Our office is full of people that work enormously hard and still enjoy spending time together during their off-hours. The “heart” of our office is what we call the Hub. It’s a mixed-use common area where we eat, meet, work, and share ideas on a daily basis. It was the first space that we designed here because we knew that it would be where all of the real work and creative “play” would happen.
Kaori: Any other ideas to enhance the PA office or any future offices?
Kirk: I would like us to continue this concept of opening offices that are “on brand,” but that celebrate the diversity that Mercarians value. As we look to expand into other areas of the country such as Boston, Massachusetts, the spaces that we create should reflect the past, present, and future of the city and its people. Mercari is unlike any other company, so our office shouldn’t be limited by what is expected. That we continue to learn, improve, and defy convention is what I love most about working for Mercari!
We are pleased both to be recognized by Glassdoor and that our employees love our open office design!
Can you see yourself working here?
Mercari is looking for talented individuals to join our team and help us deliver on our mission: to make selling easier than buying. Check out our career site for open positions!
Thank you for reading and hope you are excited for our upcoming tech blog posts. Happy 2020!
