Isn’t it ironic that a former city hall now houses a company known for its quirky culture? This is the Zappos Headquarters. Once the center of Las Vegas governance, this building now buzzes with the energy of an online retail giant.
Zappos.com moved into this building after a multimillion-dollar makeover. The aim was to transform the old city hall into a vibrant workspace. The building stands at Las Vegas Boulevard and the U.S. 95 freeway. Zappos’ move to this location was a key part of a downtown revitalization project.
Before Zappos, the city hall moved to a new glass building in February 2012. The old monolithic facade of the building largely remained. However, the interior got a complete Zappos-style makeover.
Inside Zappos Headquarters, you will find many unusual features. A Lego brick sculpture greets visitors in the lobby. Recreation areas boast ping-pong tables. Even the elevators offer video games. The games were installed to encourage people to speak with one another.
The idea behind these quirky elements is to foster interaction and creativity. Zappos wants its employees to collide serendipitously. The goal is to encourage communication between workers.
The company has no goal for how quickly a customer service rep needs to get off the phone. The record for the longest call, over 10 hours, is a celebrated record. Every single employee starts in the customer call center for no less than 30 days.
The hiring process takes months to ensure new employees are a fit. After training, new employees can quit and receive a month’s salary. This shows how much Zappos values its unique company culture.
There is fun Zappos branded stuff everywhere. A mini-motorcycle is undeniably cool. Some items are for employee use, like scooters for getting around downtown. Other items can be purchased using Zappos employee currency.
Zappos employs an artist-in-residence. This artist can be found working on chalk murals. They create outdoor sculptures and any other surface that could benefit from some inspiration.
A gathering room with a coffee bar opens to an incredible outdoor rooftop patio. You can find an amazing view and a complete mini-golf course. The Downtown Las Vegas Zappos Headquarters Building spans some 276500 square feet.
Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh invested millions to revitalize downtown Las Vegas. He wanted to create an area where there isn’t a huge distinction between working and playing. This move brought a critical mass of creative persons to the inner core of Las Vegas.
Despite being acquired by Amazon, Zappos maintains its unique culture. The company continues to operate as an independent entity. Zappos core values include creating fun and a little weirdness. Zappos also wants to deliver WOW through service. So, next time you think of shoes, remember the playful heart of Zappos Headquarters.