Best spaces to work: VMLY&R Shanghai

VMLY&R Shanghai's new headquarters are home to the agency’s 400-plus strong team of creative and technology specialists, who are seated across the three-storey building.

The brand-new 4000 square metre office encapsulates the spirit of the agency – creating connected brands through connected people and connected ways of working. This is demonstrated in the thoughtfully designed space featuring individual workspaces; a wide variety of meeting rooms and areas designed for collaborative working; recreation and chillout areas, including a ‘Zen Room’ with tranquil wall art, bamboo floor mats and wooden furniture; a ‘Sunshine Room’ with built in swings, and the VMLY&R employee bar for after-hour socials.

The agency’s shared sense of identity is communicated throughout the office, from the VMLY&R shaped furniture and chandeliers to branded employee mugs featuring each team member’s name; to the VMLY&R lollipops available at reception.  

Located close to the trendy North Bund area, VMLY&R Shanghai is the agency's ecommerce centre of excellence in Asia. 'High-tech’ is the overarching theme, from the huge LED VMLY&R-branded billboard adorning the outside of the building to the use of state-of-the-art face recognition technology in the entrance, which greets you by name as you walk through the door.

Specially developed apps connect team members, allowing them to find each other on an interactive map, collaborate, play games together and even pre-order food and drinks at the VMLY&R Café through a dedicated WeChat channel. Teams also compete for glory via the office’s Times Square-style floor-to-ceiling LED displays, which surround the building’s central staircase, proudly displaying the agency’s best work, which is updated quarterly.