Built for Impact, Built for Change.
Accenture, a global consulting organization, launched a major initiative to redefine the future of work for its teams worldwide. At the center of this evolution is the Chicago Innovation Hub. Located in an iconic transportation hub in the heart of the city, the LEED Gold, Fitwell 2 Star certified space within newly branded Accenture Tower blends physical and digital work, creating a 360-degree work experience that puts the employee in control. The design is intuitively navigable and open to evolution, allowing teams to iterate and adapt based on their needs.  

The “Vertical City” strategically stacks program on seven floors to showcase innovative work, stories, people, and culture, creating a dynamic, immersive journey for clients and employees. Following the non-linear “safari” from the 20th floor to the 26th, the path begins with the making – highlighting immersion rooms, labs, production spaces, and a broadcast studio. Then, the output is on display, with storytelling spaces and demo environments to showcase the process and product. The client-facing top floors highlight ideation, and connection with meeting spaces to support co-creation.  

The glittering spectrum of light the city reflects served as inspiration for the color and finishes throughout the space, with architectural elements and textures seen throughout the vibrant neighborhoods of Chicago, creating a unique human-centric experience on each floor. Each floor pays homage to a different aspect of the city’s innovation journey through materiality, artwork, and activations. An innovative Accenture-developed app grants visitors access to all floors via QR code activated turnstiles, providing real-time occupancy tracking and allowing reservations for a variety of work settings with diverse postures and meeting spaces. 

The Accenture brand gradient in the form of color- changing light features, like the backlit stretched ceiling in the boardroom, was used to immerse people in a sensory experience and help with mental wellness.  

The space is highly versatile with movable walls, millwork elements, and furniture designed for effortless reconfiguration, catering to diverse events and engaging setups that make the office a true destination. The café, furnished with movable pieces and a barista bar that offers healthy in-house dining and transforms into a dynamic venue for community events and gatherings. 

The Accenture Customer Experience Center/Innovation Gallery designed by Gensler’s DXD team, gives visitors a hands-on peek into the future. As a place to examine, explore, and exchange big ideas, the Gallery offers exclusive access to novel innovations and exciting possibilities. The design is a platform for storytelling and ensures the content is always the star of the show through a flexible and customizable kit of parts, interactive exhibits, and VR/AR transforming to frame any narrative and evolving to support a variety of needs.