The Evolution of the Corporate Campus

Zappo's is turning the idea of a corporate office campus on it's head. While they could have followed the majority of other California internet firms and built or bought property in a Silicon Valley suburb.  Instead they packed up and moved - to Vegas.  

Not the high glitz strip in a Class A building, either.   They're taking over the City Hall building in the old Las Vegas downtown.  The building and 12 acres of surrounding land and buildings will have apartments for staff and retail to support company amenities  and concessionaires,  with an option for them to purchase another 10 acres for expansion.   They're moving into town, and turning it into one giant Zappo's workplace experience.  

This is a perfect example of how work is changing.  In the past, people would work all day and then go out after to socialize.  Now, people come to WORK to be social.  The work can be done from home.  Companies that lead the change will have happier employees, attract top talent, and benefit themselves through higher productivity and, more quantifiably, a lower staff/SQFT ratio that reflects less personal space and more shared collaboration space.

The new generation of workers are there to collaborate.   Accordingly, Zappo's CEO Tony Hsieh has plans for a bookstore, yoga studio, cafes, and similar employee amenities as free standing businesses.  

Personal workspaces can and will shrink - all anyone really needs now is a place to plug in their laptop or iPad.  

The social aspect,  and places to socialize and collaborate, will make future corporate headquarters attractive and productive.