Seen byDavidon January 11 2009.
There are54 comments.
rblunt
on 11 Jan 09
it looks like a university/college library nook :)
just a quick thanks for all you guys put out there, it is inspiring after all the pessimissm(sp?) that others seem intent on propagating on a minute by minute basis.
Nice chairs. I’m actually trying to find something for work where I can sit straight. I recognize the Aeron chairs, but what are those green ones in the back?
Also any other chair recommendations would be nice..
This is my favorite time to get work done. I’d prefer to come in on a day like this, and take off on a busy day :) I work from home, but escaping to a quiet office and getting out of the house really boosts the productivity.
Gaurav Sharma
on 11 Jan 09
neat office, thanks for sharing.
Are those are 23” or 30” displays. Also surprised there aren’t any multi-display set-ups (hardware limitations or conscious decision?).
Noel Nadur
on 11 Jan 09
I like the desks with the shelf underneath to hide the crap. Where did you get them or did you make them?
Gaurav Sharma: I believe, from the Apple Pro video, 37signals use laptops — so hardware limitation.
JF
on 11 Jan 09
You can always use your laptop screen and your external together to go dual screen if you wanted, but I think we all prefer a single screen setup at 37s.
SS
on 11 Jan 09
I definitely prefer a single-screen setup. When I have two displays connected I feel like I’m constantly “managing” what’s on them.
And lately I’ve been using only my laptop screen, not connected to an external display at all. The extra real estate is often just more opportunity for distraction.
It looks like you’re in an older/historic building (the brick walls, exposed wood ceiling, etc). I find that it helps us out alot creatively to work within a work of art.
Our offices are in a 1905 Beaux Arts; and the building itself breeds inspiration.
I was talking to a headmaster, and he told me that there is a lot of evidence that children (and people of all ages) are much more creative in spaces that are intrinsically beautiful and have detail. They learn to look at more things, and be more critical and creative, because those areas of the brain are activated from a young age.
Sigh. Makes me want to escape the gray cube farm even more. I continue to surprise myself with what I’ll put up with while working for the greater good (curing cancer).
JF
on 11 Jan 09
I was talking to a headmaster, and he told me that there is a lot of evidence that children (and people of all ages) are much more creative in spaces that are intrinsically beautiful and have detail.
I definitely believe that to be true. Everything around you has an impact on your creativity and perspective. Surrounding yourself with beautiful objects, detailed objects, and textured objects really helps you create better things.
Steven
on 11 Jan 09
So you sub-lease space from Coudal? How do you handle limiting the interruptions to your work?
For touting your frugality, $6,0000+ in desks seems expensive.
JF
on 11 Jan 09
Yes, we sublease from Coudal. We’ve been there for about 5 years now.
Re: interruptions… Most of us work at home most of the time. That’s one good way. But the Coudalians are pretty quiet, and so are we, so it works out well.
Re: desks… We are generally frugal (our current subleasing situation is a great example of that), but I believe in spending on desks, chairs, and equipment. We use that all day. I don’t believe in spending on a couch down the hall that no one uses, or expensive letterhead (we don’t have any) or a fancy sign on the door (we don’t have a sign).
What sort of lighting you guys have on the ceiling? I can see that the huge windows would give you great natural light on a bright day, but how do you go at night/on cloudy days? Do you have downlights, or flourescent tubes?
I really like your setup; though, I think I’d agree with @Observer in that your “shades suck” – they’re very plain and look a little dirty! I’d personally replace them with venetian blinds in a shade to match the floorboards.
That you manage to stay away from big company logos, posters & other such “motivational” material is a good sign though – I’ve always found those things tacky.
reuben the negatron
on 12 Jan 09
So umm, why did you show us a picture of your office? and why is everyone so positive about a picture of an organised office, have you never seen one before?
There are heaps of decent offices around the place, what is special about this one?
Perhaps all property agents need to do to sell space these days is stick a huge white Apple LCD on a Blonde wood desk in an old building with exposed pipes. SOLD to the bidder with the largest screen!!!!!
I’m either hugely envious of your offices or can’t see the point of your post?
Are you guys still sharing an office with a design/media company?
GeeIWonder
on 12 Jan 09
There are heaps of decent offices around the place, what is special about this one?
Jebus. Relax.
Yes, it’s just an office, which looks a lot like a lot of open space type offices (presumably with all the good and bad that entails—how do you guys handle phone calls?).
If people want to analyze it to death, what skin is it off your nose?
The contrast of the volume, quality, and creativity of the products that are generated by 37S in their offices as compared to the output of FogCreek, who have also recently posted their (new) offices (http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2008/12/29.html and pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/spolsky/FogCreekSNewOffice#) is interesting. The relative staff sizes are also interesting.
Try as I might, I just don’t see how twenty-five “rock star” programmers working in a million dollar “bionic office” designed to give the developer the most productive possible environment can only create a bug tracker. I’m also surprised that a bug tracker can support that level of staff and offices too, so either there’s more going on there than is public or my perception is off.
Either way, interesting contrast in offices, business styles, and philosophies.
LOL – we actually have some of my mum’s old Sari’s hung on our windows as shades. Looks a bit agricultural, but beautiful.
All in all though, window shades are not there to improve productivity. They are just there to keep the sun glare out, and frankly whether it is an off white sheet, or a Rembrandt painting doesn’t really make a difference I think! :)
David Andersen
on 12 Jan 09
“Either way, interesting contrast in offices…”
Per JF, “Most of us work at home most of the time.”
If anything, the work environments – where they actually do the work – are similar: private.
These offices look a lot like my living room—where I do most of my creative work now. Filtered daylight always looks good when it stretches across a wooden floor.
Kevin
on 12 Jan 09
Perhaps it is just me, but what a strange topic this is. I wonder if a picture of the trashcan 37s uses would also generate so many comments. Strange.
A lot of people are just inherently interested in the environments of others—particularly the environments of people whose work they admire.
Hence, sites like Apartment Therapy, Flickr galleries full of random work spaces, and the occasional article on how a writer organizes her space. Such interests are perfectly healthy and may relay some useful information about how to improve one’s own creative or working environment.
Alejandro Moreno
on 12 Jan 09
Lots of light. Lots of room. At least three plants, possibly more.
Still waiting for the picture showing how they organize the content of their trashcan…
David Andersen
on 12 Jan 09
Don’t be a tool Kevin. They use Backpack of course.
LB
on 12 Jan 09
Look nice, but what about the acoustics?
Anonymous Coward
on 13 Jan 09
For those of you wondering what’s outside the window, meet Google Street View.
Mike G
on 13 Jan 09
What keyboards are those? Icekeys?
JD
on 13 Jan 09
Mike, that keyboard in the corner is mine. However I inherited it. It was there when I started. It is a Macally iKeyslim. It is fine as a keyboard, but I don’t know how to do Exposé with it. I click all the function keys and nothing happens. :)
Nathan D
on 13 Jan 09
So is your office basically paperless, or are your employees that organized? Seems like every cube and office at my company has stacks of paper, folders, etc. I’m hoping that due to the nature of your work and the tools at your disposal that you’re essentially paperless, but I wanted to doublecheck.
JF
on 13 Jan 09
Nathan: We only use paper for sketching and basic note taking. Everything else goes into Basecamp, Highrise, Backpack, Writeboard, or Campfire.
Looks like a web-based company that revolves around computers…and only computers. Oh and day light (very important!) ;)
Anonymous Coward
on 15 Jan 09
If you’re really going to spend on desks, you might consider going a little bigger. I have about as much desk space as all four of these stations put together.
Drew
on 15 Jan 09
Sorry for the repeat furniture hangups, but I’m curious what the side chairs are you have. (With the curved metal bases)
Bjoern Paschen
on 16 Jan 09
Lovely. Simple and elegant, just like the 37s applications.
If you all like to work from home most of the time, then why is this “The office on a quiet Sunday morning”? Shouldn’t it be “The office on a regular busy workday”? ;-)
This discussion is closed.
About David
Creator of Ruby on Rails, partner at 37signals, best-selling author, public speaker, race-car driver, hobbyist photographer, and family man.
rblunt
on 11 Jan 09it looks like a university/college library nook :)
just a quick thanks for all you guys put out there, it is inspiring after all the pessimissm(sp?) that others seem intent on propagating on a minute by minute basis.
Observer
on 11 Jan 09Your shades suck.
Jordi
on 11 Jan 09Nice office, would be great to see other perspectives of the office
Jon Moss
on 11 Jan 09Some nice screen real estate on display, that’s what I like to see!
Looks a nice place to be :)
Ric
on 11 Jan 09Looks nice and peaceful.
Ewan
on 11 Jan 09I second “college library nook” – looks nice, peaceful and productive. Love the wooden floors. What’s outside the windows?
Edmundito
on 11 Jan 09Nice chairs. I’m actually trying to find something for work where I can sit straight. I recognize the Aeron chairs, but what are those green ones in the back?
Also any other chair recommendations would be nice..
Daniel The Scheduling Wizzard
on 11 Jan 09I love the white Apple screens. Very stylish! I am on a white MacBook right now. =)
rohandey
on 11 Jan 09Dream company
JF
on 11 Jan 09The green chairs are Liberty chairs from Humanscale.
Jim Jeffers
on 11 Jan 09This is my favorite time to get work done. I’d prefer to come in on a day like this, and take off on a busy day :) I work from home, but escaping to a quiet office and getting out of the house really boosts the productivity.
Gaurav Sharma
on 11 Jan 09neat office, thanks for sharing.
Are those are 23” or 30” displays. Also surprised there aren’t any multi-display set-ups (hardware limitations or conscious decision?).
Noel Nadur
on 11 Jan 09I like the desks with the shelf underneath to hide the crap. Where did you get them or did you make them?
Josh
on 11 Jan 09@Gaurav Sharma: Those are 23” displays. 30” are much larger.
RS
on 11 Jan 09Josh: They’re 30” displays and the last one in the back is 23”.
Noel: The desks are Dordoni Workshop Tables.
Samuel Cotterall
on 11 Jan 09Gaurav Sharma: I believe, from the Apple Pro video, 37signals use laptops — so hardware limitation.
JF
on 11 Jan 09You can always use your laptop screen and your external together to go dual screen if you wanted, but I think we all prefer a single screen setup at 37s.
SS
on 11 Jan 09I definitely prefer a single-screen setup. When I have two displays connected I feel like I’m constantly “managing” what’s on them.
And lately I’ve been using only my laptop screen, not connected to an external display at all. The extra real estate is often just more opportunity for distraction.
Jeremiah Staes
on 11 Jan 09It looks like you’re in an older/historic building (the brick walls, exposed wood ceiling, etc). I find that it helps us out alot creatively to work within a work of art.
Our offices are in a 1905 Beaux Arts; and the building itself breeds inspiration.
I was talking to a headmaster, and he told me that there is a lot of evidence that children (and people of all ages) are much more creative in spaces that are intrinsically beautiful and have detail. They learn to look at more things, and be more critical and creative, because those areas of the brain are activated from a young age.
Matt Lincoln Russell
on 11 Jan 09Looks an awful lot like the Coudal offices…
OH RIGHT. ;)
Will Green
on 11 Jan 09Sigh. Makes me want to escape the gray cube farm even more. I continue to surprise myself with what I’ll put up with while working for the greater good (curing cancer).
JF
on 11 Jan 09I was talking to a headmaster, and he told me that there is a lot of evidence that children (and people of all ages) are much more creative in spaces that are intrinsically beautiful and have detail.
I definitely believe that to be true. Everything around you has an impact on your creativity and perspective. Surrounding yourself with beautiful objects, detailed objects, and textured objects really helps you create better things.
Steven
on 11 Jan 09So you sub-lease space from Coudal? How do you handle limiting the interruptions to your work?
For touting your frugality, $6,0000+ in desks seems expensive.
JF
on 11 Jan 09Yes, we sublease from Coudal. We’ve been there for about 5 years now.
Re: interruptions… Most of us work at home most of the time. That’s one good way. But the Coudalians are pretty quiet, and so are we, so it works out well.
Re: desks… We are generally frugal (our current subleasing situation is a great example of that), but I believe in spending on desks, chairs, and equipment. We use that all day. I don’t believe in spending on a couch down the hall that no one uses, or expensive letterhead (we don’t have any) or a fancy sign on the door (we don’t have a sign).
aimee.mychores.co.uk
on 11 Jan 09Your office looks a little bit like a school! :)
Devan
on 12 Jan 09What sort of lighting you guys have on the ceiling? I can see that the huge windows would give you great natural light on a bright day, but how do you go at night/on cloudy days? Do you have downlights, or flourescent tubes?
Matt
on 12 Jan 09I really like your setup; though, I think I’d agree with @Observer in that your “shades suck” – they’re very plain and look a little dirty! I’d personally replace them with venetian blinds in a shade to match the floorboards.
That you manage to stay away from big company logos, posters & other such “motivational” material is a good sign though – I’ve always found those things tacky.
reuben the negatron
on 12 Jan 09So umm, why did you show us a picture of your office? and why is everyone so positive about a picture of an organised office, have you never seen one before?
There are heaps of decent offices around the place, what is special about this one?
Perhaps all property agents need to do to sell space these days is stick a huge white Apple LCD on a Blonde wood desk in an old building with exposed pipes. SOLD to the bidder with the largest screen!!!!!
I’m either hugely envious of your offices or can’t see the point of your post?
Brian Jones
on 12 Jan 09Are you guys still sharing an office with a design/media company?
GeeIWonder
on 12 Jan 09There are heaps of decent offices around the place, what is special about this one?
Jebus. Relax.
Yes, it’s just an office, which looks a lot like a lot of open space type offices (presumably with all the good and bad that entails—how do you guys handle phone calls?).
If people want to analyze it to death, what skin is it off your nose?
Jason
on 12 Jan 09Edmundito,
We use the Human Scale Freedom chair at our office and love them.
http://www.cellspin.net/user/b4c51afc21/post/39527/
--Josh
on 12 Jan 09The contrast of the volume, quality, and creativity of the products that are generated by 37S in their offices as compared to the output of FogCreek, who have also recently posted their (new) offices (http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2008/12/29.html and pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/spolsky/FogCreekSNewOffice#) is interesting. The relative staff sizes are also interesting.
Try as I might, I just don’t see how twenty-five “rock star” programmers working in a million dollar “bionic office” designed to give the developer the most productive possible environment can only create a bug tracker. I’m also surprised that a bug tracker can support that level of staff and offices too, so either there’s more going on there than is public or my perception is off.
Either way, interesting contrast in offices, business styles, and philosophies.
Devan
on 12 Jan 09@Matt and @Observer,
LOL – we actually have some of my mum’s old Sari’s hung on our windows as shades. Looks a bit agricultural, but beautiful.
All in all though, window shades are not there to improve productivity. They are just there to keep the sun glare out, and frankly whether it is an off white sheet, or a Rembrandt painting doesn’t really make a difference I think! :)
David Andersen
on 12 Jan 09“Either way, interesting contrast in offices…”
Per JF, “Most of us work at home most of the time.”
If anything, the work environments – where they actually do the work – are similar: private.
Jamesy
on 12 Jan 09Would love a photo of the view out of the window?
Tanner Christensen
on 12 Jan 09What I’d give to work there someday!
ratchetcat
on 12 Jan 09These offices look a lot like my living room—where I do most of my creative work now. Filtered daylight always looks good when it stretches across a wooden floor.
Kevin
on 12 Jan 09Perhaps it is just me, but what a strange topic this is. I wonder if a picture of the trashcan 37s uses would also generate so many comments. Strange.
ratchetcat
on 12 Jan 09A lot of people are just inherently interested in the environments of others—particularly the environments of people whose work they admire.
Hence, sites like Apartment Therapy, Flickr galleries full of random work spaces, and the occasional article on how a writer organizes her space. Such interests are perfectly healthy and may relay some useful information about how to improve one’s own creative or working environment.
Alejandro Moreno
on 12 Jan 09Lots of light. Lots of room. At least three plants, possibly more.
Very nice.
Anonymous Coward
on 12 Jan 09“Perhaps it is just me…”
It is.
carlivar
on 12 Jan 09A clean desk is the sign of a cluttered mind.
Kevin
on 12 Jan 09Still waiting for the picture showing how they organize the content of their trashcan…
David Andersen
on 12 Jan 09Don’t be a tool Kevin. They use Backpack of course.
LB
on 12 Jan 09Look nice, but what about the acoustics?
Anonymous Coward
on 13 Jan 09For those of you wondering what’s outside the window, meet Google Street View.
Mike G
on 13 Jan 09What keyboards are those? Icekeys?
JD
on 13 Jan 09Mike, that keyboard in the corner is mine. However I inherited it. It was there when I started. It is a Macally iKeyslim. It is fine as a keyboard, but I don’t know how to do Exposé with it. I click all the function keys and nothing happens. :)
Nathan D
on 13 Jan 09So is your office basically paperless, or are your employees that organized? Seems like every cube and office at my company has stacks of paper, folders, etc. I’m hoping that due to the nature of your work and the tools at your disposal that you’re essentially paperless, but I wanted to doublecheck.
JF
on 13 Jan 09Nathan: We only use paper for sketching and basic note taking. Everything else goes into Basecamp, Highrise, Backpack, Writeboard, or Campfire.
Daniel Massicotte
on 14 Jan 09Looks like a web-based company that revolves around computers…and only computers. Oh and day light (very important!) ;)
Anonymous Coward
on 15 Jan 09If you’re really going to spend on desks, you might consider going a little bigger. I have about as much desk space as all four of these stations put together.
Drew
on 15 Jan 09Sorry for the repeat furniture hangups, but I’m curious what the side chairs are you have. (With the curved metal bases)
Bjoern Paschen
on 16 Jan 09Lovely. Simple and elegant, just like the 37s applications.
If you all like to work from home most of the time, then why is this “The office on a quiet Sunday morning”? Shouldn’t it be “The office on a regular busy workday”? ;-)
This discussion is closed.