DESIGNWORKS 2020

Willow Tree

Durham, NC

Gensler Raleigh

WillowTree’s workspace in a historic Durham mill celebrates the authentic character of the building and simultaneously reinforces the company’s generative culture. Searching for a space to expand led app development company, WillowTree, to a beautiful old mill whose third floor provides the perfect place to grow. The design balances focus and collaborative spaces to optimize team flow and productivity. The design concept, “a walk through the woods,” crafted to make employees feel grounded in their environment, inspired to grow, and rejuvenated when they leave. The forest theme also resonates with the repetition in the original structure and employees’ love for the outdoors.

An expansive reception desk is backed by a custom wood screen etched with the company’s logo. An adjacent custom millwork wood piece features cubbies for storage and displays the logos of companies whose apps are being developed by WillowTree. Views beyond reception to a café are framed by tall arched windows contrasted by white washed brick and refurbished wood floors from the original structure. The wellness suite, with its nap pods and yoga room, prioritizes employee health, while a gaming studio and app testing labs support the technology-driven work. The light-filled workplace is flanked by dark wood “cabins” that provide visual and acoustic privacy. Each cabin has a unique identity interior, expressed through accent paint and decorative pendant lighting. These detail-oriented features, in conjunction with the palette brought to life by the space’s abundant natural light, reflect and enhance WillowTree’s culture—a winning formula for this rapidly growing company.