Dec 28 2012
When Inc.com asked its Facebook community to vote for the world's coolest offices, EF Education First's (EF) Chinese headquarters made the short list of inspired workplaces around the world. EF Shanghai, heralded as a "cozy, four story outpost" in the heart of the city's busy Jing'An district, features natural materials infused with surprise elements like a living wall of greenery and stylized bird cage meeting rooms.
Inc.com readers recently voted EF Education First's Shanghai office one of the "world's coolest" on Facebook. EF's Chinese headquarters features natural materials infused with surprise elements like a living wall of greenery and stylized bird cage meeting rooms. (PRNewsFoto/EF Education First)
"At EF, we want our spaces to reflect the creativity and variety of the EF global community," said Fiona Kennedy , EF's in-house designer. "For EF Shanghai, we chose to create an environment that best supports its nearly 800 staff members, including linguists, scientists, technologists, academics and developers."
The 91,500-square-foot space, designed by architect Felix Bonnier of DPWT Design Limited, includes a curvilinear staircase, hardwood floors and stylish recessed lighting. Additional design accents include a set of monkey bars and a rock-climbing wall, which are playful nods to the space's former gymnasium-use.
EF's approach to workspace design consistently receives accolades and awards from global office design authorities. In addition to the nod from Inc.com, EF Moscow recently won Russia's annual national award for outstanding business space solutions from Office Next Moscow; and EF's recent groundbreaking for an expanded North American headquarters in Boston may be the company's most ambitious architectural project to date. Set to open in 2014, the 300,000-square-foot complex will feature a striking glass "waterfall" cascading down its façade, as well as tiered outdoor seating that will wrap the exterior of the building.
Established in 1965 with the mission to break down barriers of language, culture and geography, EF Education First is the world's leading international education company. EF has helped millions of students learn a new language and travel abroad. With a network of 400 schools and offices worldwide, EF specializes in language training, educational travel, academic degrees, and cultural exchange programs. EF is the Official Language Supplier of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi 2014. EF published the groundbreaking English Proficiency Index to measure the English ability of adults in different countries and cities across the world.