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CULTURE & ENVIRONMENT

Alberici
Industry: Construction
Location: Overland
Local Employees: 1,000
Website: alberici.com

Forget hours of toiling under harsh lights, in a stiff chair or trapped in a maze of confined spaces. At Alberici’s headquarters, the light pours in through walls of windows, the chairs are ergonomically designed to draw out body heat, and the space is so open and sleek that it feels as if a library and modern art gallery hooked up. “It’s a little overwhelming when you walk in,” says project engineer Peter Nuernberger.

A native prairie and white wind turbine outside offer a preview of the building’s environmentally friendly design. Inside, bamboo covers elevator walls, and employees dine on heart-healthy subsidized lunches. Everything whispers of the company’s innovative culture—with an emphasis on whispers. In fact, the company even plays white noise throughout the day. “It is kind of like working in a library,” says Jay Reiter, director of marketing.

When the construction firm finished its $20 million LEED-certified building in 2004, commuters along I-170 got a sneak peek at the kind of green projects that Alberici is used to tackling. “We wanted a healthy environment,” says Denay Davis, vice president of employee services, “that’s aesthetic, psychological and physical.”

The green approach is built into the building and the culture, which helps Alberici promote corporate responsibility and teaches visitors about energy-efficient building methods. “I think it makes it easier to do your job,” Reiter says, “because you’re not fighting your environment.”


Washington University
Industry: Education
Location: U. City/Clayton
Local Employees: 12,500
Website: wustl.edu

Many offices preach work-life balance, but the reverse is the case at Washington University: Staff and faculty have a new life opened up to them because of the university. “There’s a sense of community that you don’t have in a more classic corporate setting,” explains vice chancellor for human resources Ann Prenatt, as she walks across the Danforth Campus on a crisp November day. Students scurry between collegiate Gothic-style buildings. Some study in the cavernous Holmes Lounge or the recently renovated library. Others grab lunch at the new Danforth Student Center’s dining hall. Visiting professionals unwind at the Knight Center, a hotel-like building for executives.

Inside historic Brookings Hall, executive director of university relations Jim Burmeister explains why he’s worked at Wash. U. for 50-plus years. “It’s not difficult to buy into the whole ethos,” he says. “There’s constantly something happening right at your doorstep.” Fine arts, concerts, academic and sporting events, presidential and vice presidential debates—the list goes on and on. Then there are the other perks of being a Wash. U. employee: free MetroLink passes, a car-sharing program, and a benefits and tuition-assistance package that’s tough to top.
Jane Kraus, head nurse of hematology and oncology, started at Washington University’s School of Medicine last August. After working at other local medical facilities, she was attracted to the competitive pay, 401(k) and academic setting. “If you don’t learn while you’re here, you must have your head in the sand.” Director of athletics John Schael seconds the sentiment. “The atmosphere is challenging and exciting,” he says. “I’ve worked here 31 years, and I look forward to coming to work every day.”

Beyond the perks and collegiate atmosphere, however, there’s something more: a certain sense of purpose. “When you think about the product of a university, which is these incredibly bright students and life-saving research, you just have to feel good,” says Prenatt. “That, to me, is what it’s all about.”

HOK
Industry: Architecture
Location: Downtown
Local Employees: 250
Website: hok.com

Step onto the seventh floor at Metropolitan Square, and you might think you’ve ended up in the wrong place. “I love the look when the elevator door opens and there are lawyers who look around and ask, ‘When are you putting the carpet in?’” says Michelle Pinkston, a landscape architect at HOK.

Just three years ago, the space was a federal bankruptcy court with courtrooms that “looked like bad funeral-home chapels,” recalls vice chairman Clark Davis. So when executives decided to renew their lease at Met 1 and moved all of their employees to one floor, the world-renowned architecture firm did what it does best: transform the space into one of the most environmentally friendly offices in St. Louis. “We essentially created a loft-quality space inside a 20-year-old building,” says Davis.

Now the office is an airy environment with a prime view of the Arch and Busch Stadium that everyone can share. Stationed in rows of desks, architects and designers debate blueprints for a project in Saudi Arabia. “Almost everything we do is based on collaboration,” says Davis, “so we wanted to encourage communication and bring people together.” An open kitchen serves as a common meeting place. Glass-walled “huddle rooms” offer intimate spaces for employees to chat. Even 85-year-old founding partner Gyo Obata works inside a small cube surrounded by other creative minds.

Almost everything about the firm’s LEED-certified offices is environmentally friendly. Skylights with automatic louvers maximize natural light. Some employees bike to work and shower in HOK’s locker rooms. (Workers can also opt for Metro passes instead of parking permits.) A community-supported agriculture program encourages employees to eat organic food. And the firm started a recycling program for the entire 42-floor building. “You find it spills over into your personal life,” says interior designer Ryan Favier, who’s followed the company’s lead by recycling at home. “You’re more aware of what you do.”

Culture & Environment: Honorable Mentions
Brown Shoe
Style & Trend Center monitors the world’s latest fashions

Build-A-Bear
“World Bearquarters” boasts cute job titles and a fun-filled environment

Cannon Design
Showers for cyclists; inspiring offices inside recently renovated Power House building

City Museum
Critter-themed caves, a glass studio and an aquarium—what’s not to love?

Danforth Plant Science Center
State-of-the-art facility with atrium, greenhouse and environmentally controlled growth rooms

The Magic House
Rewarding atmosphere where youngsters laugh and learn

Major Brands
Sleek break area, wellness center and bar

Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
Executive staff enjoys background music when orchestra practices

Saint Louis University
Wireless Internet for entire campus; centrally located next to arts district

Saint Louis Zoo
700 species of animals inside elaborate exhibits—enough said

Sandberg, Phoenix & von Gontard
Cozy café connected to library

The Solae Company
New headquarters near Forest Park brings business side and research labs under same sleek roof

St. Louis Rams
Workout facility; employees sometimes rub elbows with the pros

TOKY Branding + Design
Loft-like space inside converted warehouse

Wildlife Center of Missouri
Saving thousands of critters annually, the animal rehab center has its own aviary