Smashing Boxes
Smashing Boxes’ Director of Growth Margaret McNab, Director of Project Management Carolyn Barry and Managing Director of the company’s New Orleans location Val McKay meet in the conference room, a repurposed storage container painted “Smashing Pink” in the midst of the company’s open floor plan.
Developer Lindsey Miller shares her chair with pup Dorothy. The company is so dog-friendly, “we even have a dog channel on Slack to celebrate them,” Margaret says.
Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative (Duke I & E)
Duke I&E alum David Chambers (right) and entrepreneurs Chuck Solomon of LineHire.com and Andy Roth of RocketBolt plug away at The Bullpen‘s work stations while Duke student Colette Torres waits for a meeting. The space was designed with care and consideration of the building’s history – note the original pipes and hoppers on the walls, as well as wood and steel beams.
The Bullpen’s Community Director Marie-Angela Della Pia meets with second-year Duke’s Fuqua School of Business student Jarrett Nobles in one of several warm and inviting meeting rooms, designed to help further Duke I & E’s mission to ignite the spirit of entrepreneurship.
ReverbNation
Located in Brightleaf Square, ReverbNation has a great view (some of the company’s artists have even performed out here) and the office is walkable to numerous restaurants, shops, breweries and entertainment for after-work get-togethers and business meetings. 
The large workstations that came with ReverbNation’s space were not the best for the collaborative culture the company strives for, so they’ve re-purposed many of the conference rooms and meeting spaces to accommodate a more collaborative environment. Here, Devin Downey, Harry Hoppe and Jes Delong brainstorm in the kitchen space, while Dakota Crowder uses the bar as a standing desk.
ReverbNation’s space is inviting, but they don’t expect employees to center their lives around the job. “We believe that our people have lives outside of work,” Director of Human Resources Maggie D’Angelo says. “We not only respect that balance, we also believe that it’s our responsibility to support them there as well.”
Bronto Software
Bronto’s office is colorful, matching the creative ways that employees can engage within the space. From foosball tables to giant Jenga games to a special, themed Bronto birthday bash each year, the team understands the value of play.
Bronto sponsors healthy activities throughout the year, including a subsidized YMCA membership, Belly Busters, a few 5K runs and treadmill desks. Senior Commerce Marketing Analyst Greg Zakowicz tries to walk an hour a day.
There are several outdoor patios within the Bronto office space, including one that overlooks the Durham Bulls‘ stadium – great for getting an afternoon baseball fix.
Software Developer Matt Miller refocuses with a ping-pong break.
Photography by Briana Brough
