Making a great workplace starts with one question: What do people want?
This year, we’re continuing our tradition of featuring some of the smartest workplaces in DuPage County, Illinois. As you’re about to see, all the workplaces here are fantastic. But what makes them stand out is that they’re designed, first and foremost, for people.
And that’s important. When people have a great workplace, it changes how we work. It helps us be more creative, more collaborative, and more productive. It’s also good for business; great workplaces help companies attract the best talent and get the most from their employees.
In DuPage, we pride ourselves on creating a community that’s pro-business AND pro-people. We saw that same approach reflected in the workplaces here, and we can’t wait to show you what we’ve found.
Let’s get to it!
National Laser Institute
Oak Brook, IL | Medical Aesthetics
When you think of a medical space, “glam” is probably the last word on your mind. But why is that? Who says these places have to be ruled by beige and white? Who says we can’t spice them up with a dash of hot pink?
A far cry from the neutral norm, the National Laser Institute’s brand-new Oak Brook headquarters features a fresh, female-forward design that appeals to their employees, students and visitors. With vibrant wall coverings and hot-pink accents, the 6,000-SF space infuses personality and flair into every moment. Meanwhile, carefully curated finishes bring the brand’s charisma to life.
And the changes aren’t merely skin-deep. With their new headquarters, which opened earlier this year, the National Laser Institute aimed to set a new standard in the healthcare experience. From the hospitality-forward reception area to the treatment and training rooms, every inch was designed with an uncommon attention to experience.
As with many brands featured here, the National Laser Institute is on a mission to raise the bar for stylish sustainability. Their new space does just that. Smart design elements, like back-to-back plumbing setups, maximize efficiency, while eco-friendly fixtures reduce energy and water consumption.
And how about that bold décor? Everything from the tiles and quartz countertops to the acoustic baffles and more are made of recycled materials, an intentional design choice that shows what happens when sustainability meets style.
About National Laser Institute
More than 20 years ago, the National Laser Institute pioneered the health industry with state-of-the-art, nationally renowned cosmetic laser and injectables training courses. Today, the school is recognized as the gold standard of education in medical aesthetics.
Architecture & Design
Ware Malcomb
Glass Solutions, Inc. (GSI)
Itasca, IL | Midwest Glass Glazing
As an innovative glazing company, GSI helps create some of the most impressive buildings in the Midwest. So, when it came time to renovate their new headquarters, it’s no surprise they went all-out.
In 2020, the company acquired a 120,000-SF facility in Itasca. They divided the building into two zones: a 20,000-SF office and training area, alongside a 100,000-SF manufacturing facility. Then they gave each area a complete renovation—starting with the glazing, of course.
Today, GSI’s headquarters combines everything you’d expect in a modern office and high-tech industrial space. The office is designed for collaboration and privacy, with a central open-concept hub surrounded by private offices, meeting rooms, and training areas. It has all the amenities you’d want: a kitchen stocked with healthy snacks, a gym with locker rooms, and an outdoor patio that’s perfect for a cookout. And for those who want to practice their swing—and maybe even challenge the CEO—there’s the state-of-the-art golf simulator.
Step through a door at the back of the office and you’ll find yourself in GSI’s 100,000-SF manufacturing facility. Here, circular saws carve through metal, giant suction cups carry glass panes from one station to the next, and quality-control teams carefully inspect products. It’s a far cry from the more conceptual work that occurs next door, but having the office and manufacturing facility in the same building creates synergy between the two, allowing GSI to be nimble and efficient.
And sustainable, too. When designing their new HQ, the company partnered with ComEd and Big Ass Fans (which makes exactly what you’d think) to optimize energy efficiency in both the factory and the office.
Good for people, good for business, good for the planet. GSI’s new HQ has everything we want to see in a modern workplace. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we need to run some additional tests on that virtual golf simulator…
About GSI
Founded in 1999, GSI is a Midwestern commercial glazing contractor, primarily focused on exterior facades, tenant improvements and specialty glazing. With advanced technology, experienced talent, and a thriving culture, GSI creates beautiful and functional glass structures while pushing the industry forward.
Workspace Architect & Designer
Antunovich Associates
SIMPSON
Naperville, IL | Foundry & Process Technology
Here’s a not-so-secret secret about workplace design: What’s good for the planet and what’s good for people are often the same thing.
For proof, let’s head to SIMPSON’s brand-new Naperville headquarters. Located at CityGate Centre, the multi-use campus we featured in 2020, SIMPSON’s 9,300-SF office is focused on maximizing sustainability while providing a great employee experience.
Step inside, and the first thing you’ll notice is the view. The office’s floor-to-ceiling windows offer beautiful vistas of CityGate Centre and surrounding areas, the perfect mood-booster for the SIMPSON team.
But there’s more to these windows than meets the eye. By allowing abundant natural light into the workplace, they help reduce energy consumption and slash electric bills. Meanwhile, a transparent, microscopically thin coating on the glass reflects UV and infrared energy, helping maintain the temperature inside the building. For the team, the environment, and the company, it’s a win-win-win.
And it’s only one of many “green” features at SIMPSON’s new HQ. The firm chose CityGate Centre as its home, in part, because the campus is committed to sustainability inside and out. Both the building where SIMPSON’s office is located and the service that cleans it are LEED-certified, meeting high standards for sustainability. Meanwhile, motion-sensitive faucets and lights reduce consumption, an automated HVAC system maximizes energy efficiency, and daily recycling collection reduces waste sent to landfills.
CityGate has even invested in several campus-wide sustainability initiatives, from preserving existing wetlands to planting erosion-control grasses. This commitment to sustainability attracts eco-conscious businesses like SIMPSON while proving, once again, that green is good for everyone.
About SIMPSON
With over a century of experience, SIMPSON is a global leader in foundry and process technology. They specialize in innovative solutions for sand preparation, testing, and control technology—enhancing productivity, sustainability, and profitability for foundries worldwide.
Architecture & Design
RATIO Architects, LLC
General Contractor
Skender
BestRx
Oak Brook, IL | Pharmacy Software Solutions
All the offices we’re featuring here are great places to work. But what makes BestRx’s Oak Brook headquarters different is that it takes you inside the work.
As soon as you enter the 17,000-SF office, you’re immersed in the BestRx brand. From custom graphics in the lobby to company trivia in the conference room, everything is on-brand. Meanwhile, more subtle environmental touches—abundant natural light, pops of color, long sightlines—speak to brand values like innovation and openness.
We love BestRx’s office for all the reasons you’d expect. The many workspaces, designed for individuals and groups of varying sizes, provide the flexibility today’s workers want. The amenities are great, too—especially that game room. But what makes this one stand out is the consistent, thoughtful brand presence, reminding employees that they’re part of something bigger, while showing visitors what BestRx is all about.
About BestRx
Since 1985, BestRx has helped independent pharmacies fulfill their potential and enhance patient care. Today, as one of the industry’s fastest-growing companies, they continue to innovate, while partnering with other organizations that share their passion.
Architecture & Design
Ware Malcolmb
Ace Hardware Corporation
Oak Brook, IL | Retail Cooperative
When Ace Hardware decided to move their headquarters, they wanted to make the most of it. Their former HQ had three separate buildings. Now, as they prepared to move into a single 250,000-SF building—the site of Oak Brook’s former McDonald’s HQ—they saw an opportunity to celebrate their brand and bring their people together like never before.
So, in the spirit of Helpful Hardware Folks everywhere, Ace rolled up their sleeves and got to work.
Completed in 2023, the fully renovated building is a sleek, modern office with the soul of a hardware store. Here, you’ll find everything you’d expect from the headquarters of a modern retail juggernaut: an atrium with a grand staircase, workspaces designed for various groups and tasks, and amenities ranging from an on-site café and fitness center to indoor parking and an outdoor grilling area.
Then there’s the stuff that’s uniquely “Ace.” An art installation made of grilling pellets. An Ace logo made of screws. A hammer wall (which is as cool as it sounds). There’s even Ace Outfitters, a store where you can buy branded gear, with proceeds benefiting the company’s foundation.
With their new headquarters, Ace wanted to do something old and something new. They wanted to capture the spirit of their brand, which has been with them since 1924, while giving their 1,100 Oak Brook office employees a reason to love coming to work. We’d say they hit the nail on the head.
About Ace Hardware
Since 1924, Ace has been a mainstay of communities around the world, equipping pros and everyday folks with high-quality hardware and so much more. Today, they are the world’s largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative, with more than 5,800 locally owned and operated stores in about 60 countries.
Architecture & Design
CBRE Design Collective
Furniture Solutions
Corporate Concepts
Hirose Electric U.S.A., Inc.
Downers Grove | Technology & Connectivity
Angular and inviting, comfortable and sharp, traditional and futuristic—Hirose Electric’s American headquarters is all about balance.
Here, organic shapes offset linear geometries. Pops of brand colors and maple wood tones inject warmth into the cooler backdrops. Meanwhile, a combination of copper fixtures and concrete floors invoke the company’s electrical products, a nod to the Hirose brand.
Beyond the beauty, there’s plenty of brains. Rather than tossing out the previous tenant’s architecture, Hirose repurposed much of it, reducing both waste and cost. The space is also extremely flexible; glass partitions in key areas can be dismounted, allowing teams to quickly rearrange and repurpose the office as needed.
In the tech world, things are always changing—and changing fast. With a smart design inspired by the electrical components at the heart of their business, the Hirose headquarters is ready to keep up.
About Hirose Electric U.S.A., Inc.
Since 1937, Hirose has developed and introduced thousands of connectors for various applications. Now, with a presence in Europe, Asia and North America, the company is dedicated to meeting connector demand everywhere while pushing technology beyond today’s limits.
Architecture & Design
Ware Malcomb
Alston Construction
Downers Grove, IL | General Contractor
Construction’s a business of backhoes and buzzsaws, blueprints and bulldozers. But as any general contractor will tell you, it’s really a business of people. The outcome of every project depends not only on the tools and the materials, but on the workers who use them.
Alston Construction gets it. Headquartered in Downers Grove, the general contractor put as much love and attention into their office as they do for any of their client projects. The result is a space centered on community, health, and well-being.
From the little things—fresh plants, free snacks, and bar seating—to the showstopping window views, every square-foot of the office speaks to the company’s culture, and their understanding that the real foundation of every project is people.
About Alston Construction
Alston Construction is a premier general contractor serving clients across the Midwest. Leveraging deep experience and advanced technologies, they manage a variety of complex projects, including distribution centers, cold-storage facilities, class-A data centers, and more. Alston believes that their people are the backbone of their success, and they pride themselves in fostering an inclusive workplace with a supportive culture.
Morgan / Harbour Construction
Willowbrook, IL | General Contractor
Visiting Morgan / Harbour Construction’s headquarters today, it’s hard to believe that, only a few years ago, you would have been standing in a dusty old warehouse.
Or maybe not. Despite the sleek décor, the space holds onto a factory-like character, a spirit of efficiency and utility just beneath the modern aesthetic. The 18,500-SF office, which Morgan / Harbour renovated and unveiled in 2018, blends rugged industrialism with sophisticated office design—fitting for a company that’s as tough and gritty as it is innovative and forward-thinking.
While the headquarters was designed more than six years ago, its architects seemed to have predicted today’s office trends. The workspace centers on the “Connect Zone,” an open-concept area where teams congregate regularly. Dotted along the Zone’s perimeter are numerous private offices and huddle rooms designed to accommodate individuals and groups of any size, giving employees the flexibility to find the right space for any given task.
In terms of design, Morgan / Harbor’s headquarters is definitely on-trend. But it also feels like a callback to the space’s industrial history, showing that some workplace principles never clock out.
About Morgan / Harbour Construction
Morgan / Harbour is a full-service construction management firm focused on tenant improvement and ground-up construction. Headquartered in Willowbrook, Illinois, with offices in Wisconsin and New Jersey, the company serves clients throughout Chicagoland and across the nation. Today, their growing portfolio spans numerous markets, including office, fulfillment, distribution and warehousing, cold storage, manufacturing, healthcare, and business aviation.
Architecture & Design
Ware Malcolmb
Nacional Group, LLC
Downers Grove, IL | Building Services Provider
When Nacional Group, a Hispanic-owned building solutions provider, moved into their new Downers Grove headquarters at the end of 2023, they wanted to create a space that empowered their people to “Do Good Work” and inspired their clients to do the same.
Today, Nacional’s workspace is all about connection. The office’s long sightlines and glass walls create a sense of flow—as does the waterfall feature in the conference room—unifying the space and creating a sense of shared purpose. Meanwhile, public areas encourage employees and clients to gather in more informal settings, while the latest teleconferencing equipment connects the office to partners and teams everywhere.
Then there’s the marquee feature: large windows, visible from anywhere in the office, offering a panoramic view of Chicagoland and the Morton Arboretum. The view is seriously breathtaking. Beyond that, it’s a reminder of the firm’s connection to the greater community—an idea at the heart of Doing Good Work.
About Nacional Group, LLC
Nacional Group, LLC is an MBE-Hispanic building services provider certified by, and Corporate Plus Member of, the National Minority Supplier Development Council. Serving clients across a broad range of sectors, their capabilities include general construction and management work, ground-up and tenant improvement, facilities maintenance, and more.
Ware Malcomb
Oak Brook, IL | Architecture & Design
After featuring some of DuPage County’s smartest workplaces, it only seems right to wrap things up with the firm that designed several of them.
Renovated in 2018, Ware Malcomb’s Oak Brook office brings together all the best elements of a modern, people-first workplace. Light, bright and airy, the office feels open in every way. The spacious floor plan makes collaboration easy, while various workspaces and stations offer the flexibility employees need.
In the Ware Malcomb office, where you work is up to you. You can join larger meetings in one of the conference rooms, brainstorm with a small group in a huddle room, or complete a few tasks in a focus area. Having a one-on-one with a client? The welcome area is perfect for that, with centralized soft seating that’s great for a quick chat.
The office features a wide variety of workspaces, and it all comes together in the Townhall. Part-lunchroom, part-presentation space, and part-entertainment room, this centralized community area features a large TV, two gaming consoles, and a high-top counter with bar stool seating. For those who want to relax and recharge, there’s even a cozy nook with a window bench and a small dinette. Here, there’s a space for everyone.
Each of the workplaces we’ve featured is unique. But Ware Malcomb’s office, and the Townhall in particular, reminds us of a truth at the heart of them all. People are more than just workers, and the best workplaces are so much more than places to work.
About Ware Malcomb
Established in 1972, Ware Malcomb is a full-service design firm, providing professional architecture, planning, interior design, civil engineering, branding, and building measurement services. Ware Malcomb provides award-winning services to clients across North America.
Keep Exploring the Offices and Workplaces of DuPage County, Illinois
DuPage is home to a diverse ecosystem of businesses from a variety of industries. Over decades of growth and evolution, this ecosystem been nurtured by our diverse workforce (more than 640,000 strong), our education system, our regional supply chain, our pro-business policies, and the high quality of life that helps us attract top talent.
With that economic growth has come a flourishing office market, where local businesses are introducing bold innovations that turn their ‘workplaces’ into collaborative environments, social spaces and impactful customer experiences.
Want to see more of DuPage’s smartest, sleekest and healthiest workplaces? Take a look at our past lists:
The Smartest, Sleekest, and Healthiest Workplaces: 2020
The Smartest, Sleekest, and Healthiest Workplaces: 2021
The Smartest, Sleekest, and Healthiest Workplaces: 2022
The Smartest, Sleekest, and Healthiest Workplaces: 2023
