The vibe at Shawmut Design and Construction’s newly renovated Boston headquarters is more like a well-funded start-up than a 34-year-old general contracting firm. Indie rock music hums in the lobby/café with its polished concrete floors, exposed brick and a steel-beam sculpture strung from the 20-ft-high ceiling. Employees gather at rustic white oak high-top tables near a billiards table and a 22-ft-long bar featuring a backsplash with race-car red tiles laid in a brick pattern.
Casually dressed employees wearing earbuds huddle over laptops while talking on iPhones. Workstations in an open floor plan have desks that rise to the standing position at the push of a button. Huddle spaces with comfy red chairs and flat-screen TVs are perfect for small groups. Meanwhile, telephone booths and the “Focus Forest” allow for privacy and concentrated work.