Duff & Phelps

The Challenge

Boutique investment firm Duff & Phelps wanted to celebrate 90 years in business by creating a workplace that reflects their legacy of trusted reliability, showcases their competitive edge in the Midwest financial market and affirms their status as a global finance leader.

Duff & Phelps’ decision to invest in a new office aligned with their embrace of a hybrid work schedule. The firm sought a refreshed office environment to attract and retain top talent, encourage employee interaction and support peak staff performance. The project targeted Fitwel certification, an international standard for buildings that enhance health and well-being.

The Design Solution

HKS strategists, researchers and designers partnered with Duff & Phelps’ real estate team to choose a site for the new office. The extensive site selection process included a leadership alignment and visioning session to identify and prioritize the attributes Duff & Phelps wanted in the new office. One of the most influential outcomes of the session was a discussion about desired workplace amenities. This discussion set expectations that the new office location and building should deliver many amenities that Duff & Phelps might otherwise have been expected to provide directly in their leased office space.

With ideal future state criteria and design priorities in hand, HKS completed initial assessments of three locations brought forward by Duff & Phelps’ real estate broker. These assessments allowed the firm to compare options based on their project vision and goals.

Duff & Phelps ultimately selected a LEED-Gold certified building in downtown Chicago with views of the Chicago River. The building provides access to a gym and is within walking distance of world-renown outdoor spaces such as Chicago’s Riverwalk and Millennium Park. To support Duff & Phelps’ hybrid work policy and help make it simple for suburban-based employees to come to the office, the site is easily accessible via highway and commuter rail.

To impart a distinctive sense of place, the office interiors celebrate the energy and history of Chicago. Unique elements include custom wall graphics that showcase the region, as well as black metal details that reference the early designs of skyscrapers, which originated in the city.

Each corner of the workplace features a shared amenity that enables coworkers to connect with one another and experience extraordinary views. The library, coffee bar/drink den, break area and reception spaces are designed to encourage people to spend time with their colleagues and enjoy daylight, hydration, nutrition and wellness stations.

The 21,000 square-foot (1,951 square-meter) workplace includes 61 offices and seven workstations to support future growth at the firm from 50 employees to 68. Duff & Phelps elected to provide private offices to accommodate functional, role-based needs and prioritize employee productivity. The offices feature clear glass fronts to demonstrate transparency, democratize views and promote increased staff interaction.

Healthy materials and biophilic design elements that evoke the natural world helped the project achieve Fitwel certification. In addition, HKS worked with Duff & Phelps to implement green purchasing and cleaning protocols at the firm and improve employee access to fresh food, respite areas and adaptable spaces.

The Design Impact

Duff & Phelps’ new workplace communicates stability and sophistication. The office design also champions sustainability and wellness.

By developing a clear vision and workplace strategy, the project team was able to move swiftly through the site selection process and begin working on office design.

Within a year of moving into the new workspace, Duff & Phelps was recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of the “Best Places to Work in Chicago.”